Accidental death of an anarchist- question 4

Base lighting state

Fluorescent strip lights, desk lamps and house lights dimmed

Scene 1 Base lights: political implication

practical and functional lighting: prove Bertozzo’s words before they are dismantled
desk lamps: illuminate stage manager- artifice of theatre, metatheatre.

Change 1 (A1S1)

‘Il Sono…’ red and green gels to add to the white to create Italian flag.

‘May we’ red and blue gels to add to the white to create French flag

Change 2 (A1S1)

When Bertozzo is punched - blackout

A1S2: Base lighting

House lights- brighter, fluorescent strip lights, recorder- pulsing LED, window is open and is emitting a brighter light.

Scene Base lights: political implication

recorder: constant reminder that they are on the record

window: passing of time, higher level, light draws attention to the window which is prominent in proving the systematic corruption.

Change 1 (A1S2)

lighting the fascist figureheads: they were visible in S1 but small lights are attached to the frame to illuminate and draw attention to the systematic fascism of the police.

Change 2 (A1S2)

‘Calabria’ Fresnel barn doors to direct light at the Maniac and the Superintendent, red and green gels- nationalism

Change 3 (A1S2)

‘Voice off' functional lamp turns on again- emphasises the artifice of theatre.

Change 4 (A1S2)

Singing at end- fascist quotes projected onto plain walls in green and red, Italian gels to show nationalism.

A2S1: base lighting state

same as end of act 1, projected fascist quotes, Italian gels, very dysfunctional

Change 1 (A2S1)

‘Excellent’ functional lighting returns, house lights up at coffee.

Change 2 (A2S1)

‘Midnight’ when the Maniac clicks his fingers- snap change:

• sun turns to be moon- footlight changes from warm to cool

• dark blue gels

• LED stars (fairy lights)

Farcical nature and artifice of theatre, the lighting enhances the falsity of the story they are constantly making up.

Change 3 (A2S1)

‘The irony has gotten through’ - crossfade to functional lighting

Change 4 (A2S1)

Page 46: the recorder light pulses brighter and quicker, on page 68 the stage lights turn off and house lights come up- Fo’s intentions have been met.

Change 5 (A2S1)

Feletti enters: lighting becomes starker and lighter, she is there to highlight the truth.

Change 6 (A2S1)

Bomb present: chaotically moving follow spots to enhance the panicked response.

when Maniac grabs the bomb at the end of this section, snap change to functional lighting.

When Bertozzo has hold of the bomb, chaotic spots again.

Change 7 (A2S1)

Search for the eye: follow spots

Change 8 (A2S1)

Feletti ‘YOU!’ - all lights darken, house lights up (world closing in)

Change 9 (A2S1)

Snap changes to mark double endings

ENDING

• Lights of the portraits flicker and fall off the wall with the portraits themselves,

• Lots of smashing bulbs and lack of stage lighting,

• Maniac talks to audience- spotlights,

• Massive explosion- blackout.

Fo’s intention has truly been realised, facade of the police has ended and the disguise of the Maniac has been revealed.

Sound changes 1 (A1S1)

• ‘NEXT’ - intercom- functional, office soundscape, Italian music (quiet) when Bertozzo enters.

• ‘mousetrap’- snapping sound- artifice of theatre

• ‘il sono’/’May we’ - Italian/French music- Maniac gains power over Bertozzo

• ‘MAY WE GET…’ loud, amplified, Maniac has gained authority

Sound changes 2 (A1S1)

• ‘Penal code 122’ - recorded, professional voices with RP accents - the police are educated

• ‘Ah’ - cartoonish crash sound- police becoming less professional

• ‘Maniac chases constable’ - tension action music, farce, undermines authority

• ‘opportunity’/’I do love..’- awww/yay recorded sounds, farce

Sound changes 3 (A1S1)

• ‘Silence in the court’ gavel knocking, amplified

• ‘Window opens’ creak effect, outside soundscape- atmospheric- ‘dog sniffing’, ‘crash’ recorded sounds add to farce.

• ‘empties files’ swanny whistle (descending), ‘OW’ ‘MEOW’ sounds outside

• ‘Telephone’ old phone ringtone, static, Maniac is causing internal issues

Sound changes 4 (A1S1)

• ‘law provocation’ - sing together - know the law and ignore it

• ‘falling down the stairs’ - clunks down stairs, prolonged, funny

• ‘Pissani smacks fist’ exaggerated punch sound, dizzy tweeting birds, - Maniac has successfully broken down relationships

Sound changes 1 (A2S1)

• ‘Midnight atmosphere’ midnight soundscape, falsity of the police and theatre

• ‘massage’ relaxing zen music; ‘karate chop’ tense music

• ‘takes applause’- recording clapping, intensifies farce

• ‘thrashes about’- exaggerated punch sounds- systemic violence

Sound changes 2 (A2S1)

• ‘Pause’ silence- stillness, the irony has got through

• ‘Shhh’ amplified- police still trying to hide it

• ‘phone shatters silence’ - alarm loud and phone bell - slows pace

• ‘knock at door’ wooden, buoyant knock

Sound changes 3 (A2S1)

• ‘slaps back’ slapstick, systematic violence

• presence of the bomb, or on word ‘bomb’ loud ‘dun dunnn’ sound effect

Sound changes 1 (A1S2)

• tape recorder- rewinding casette noise, reminder of recorder

• start of scene: small fanfare when Mussolini revealed on the wall (incidental)- fascist core of the police, Pissani: Italy in the 1970s

• ‘hand caught in cabinet’ bang, heartbeat begins- threatened by the laws

• ‘Calabria’ Italian fascist music, facist core, incidental

Sound changes 2 (A1S2)

• ‘Superintendent exits’ - flashback music, Maniac is allowing them to continue lying

• ‘phone call’ - Constable then says ring ring - satirical farce

• ‘they run and fetch a file’- cartoon running - satirical farce

• ‘window opens’ creaking noise, old and rusty- couldn’t have fallen- it obvious they are covering up the truth.

Sound changes 2 (A1S2)

• ‘Out!’ tense music again, satirical and emphatic of the violent nature of the police

• ‘Point one’- ding- infantilise their made up story

• ‘Tell me did it go’ - train noises - atmospheric

• ‘Chatenuga’ chords of song played by constable - further satirical methods

Sound changes 3 (A1S2)

• ‘Guitars’ - guitar played by the Constable- low on staff (artifice of theatre)

• ‘Cast begin to sing’ foot tambourine, harmonica - constable is a one man band, police are easily manipulated by the Maniac

MANIAC BASE COSTUME

• crazy, unkempt hair

• patchwork trousers

• argyle socks and sweater vest

• bright red corduroy jacket: representative of the lower class and anti-establishment attitudes.

Pop of color against the bland and drab office, representative of the pro-letariat.

Disciple of Freud, derived from the Commedia Dell’Arte character ‘Arleccino’, capuchin monkey etc.

MANIAC AS A JUDGE

• Synthetic, polyester wig on top of hair (hair visible underneath)

• Black robes, hopsack with velvet cuffs.

• Base costume visible under robes

Higher status than the Maniac, therefore can manipulate the police by undermining their authority. Costume can be seen beneath the robes to remind audience that it is a disguise- police are blind to the truth they don’t want to see.

MANIAC AS THE FORENSICS EXPERT

• white polyester lab coat

• crazy hair

• costume still visible but wooden leg has the trousers rolled up it.

• false eye strapped on like eye patch with velcro

Much like the Maniac’s vibe but restrained. Function is to expose truth via quick wit and intelligence, appears to be on side of the police as he conforms to their wish of his disguise.