amadeus sscript

intro

amadeus by peter shaffer explores faith jealousy genius and mediocrity

focuses on salieri, protagonist consumed by envy and faith

non naturalistic design —> expression of salieri’s mind
not literal setting

aims to further push the notion of the unreliable narrator

combines 17th -18th century influences of baroque rococo and classical periods (art/architecture/fashion)

aim

visual and sound symbols to reveal inner emotions rather than realism

design choices

canvas to mimic tapestry, which reflects the elite decor of the classical era
blurred edges to represent hazy memory
stitched together to represent a reconstructed recollection
3 panels are general set pieces 

which form the triptych at the end of act one, trapping salieri in his mind

opening sound

play initial mozart composition
as written in stage direction, sets realism and memory setting before descent occurs

red walls

represent passion, sin, and punishment

door

ornate and closed, shows salieri’s denial to divine access
potential: reaching for the door and then stopping —> “grazie signore you gave me the desire to serve you”
shows exclusion from gods graze
further traps him in his mind and his closed mindset

chair and fireplace

chair is a representation of salieri himself (green to represent envy)
fireplace —> passion and ambition
grate —> guilt, morals, and self absorption blocking true expression

diminishing flames —> fading creativity

creation of adam

visual reference to salieris relationship with god

gap of fingers represents the separation from divine favour
yearning for god and resentment toward mozart

sound shifting after clock chimes

sound is non distorted and to stage directions
“capisco! i know my fate” as a turning point to descent
distorted cacaphony to represent the chaos of salieris mind

stand and let play

desk and religious imagery

neat and composure
inside alcohol spilled ink torn music chaos
“I AM NOT MOCKED” shove desk and reveal inner contexts 
external faith, internal conflict

mirror

fractured self image
positioned so both salieri and audience see reflection
dissonance between inner and outer self

bookshelf

symbol of effort and learning, contrasting mozart’s innate genius that salieri had to work for

silence

distorted music fades to silence
audience feels empty and decay of salieris mind
“before i tell you what happens next” indicates time shift and sets are flipped

flipped sets

aging, decay, loss of hope
texture change is minds distortion

dante and virgil in hell

salieri’s self created torment
no longer reaching for god —> trapped with mozart

conclusion

abstract symbolic design to salieris damnation becomes visible
audience sees internal collapse manifest on stage
reinforcing unreliable narrator and confessional descent
captures amadeus tension between faith and human nature