Lighting

Episode 1: At Work

When the subway is mentioned a dusty yellow wash envelops stage and lights flicker - in conjunction with chugging sounds will create the appearance of the train
When Mr J enters and everything goes slo-mo, lights crossfade from white to purple then quickly back again - menacing aura of Mr J
When she is on her own all the lights shut off one by one like in a warehouse, then a single spotlight from a floor-light front stage appears on her, and follows her as she tries to cower away from it

Episode 2: At Home

Softer blue wash - more relaxed at home than in the office - like a dollhouse
When the bin-man comes a lightbulb pings on and Mother goes to get the door - routine thing that happens, like clockwork

Episode 3: Honeymoon

Yellow wash, sickly pink coming from two bedside lamps - supposed to be romantic
Bathroom behind a gauze, uplit with a floor lamp, YW is a silhouette

Episode 4: Maternal

Harsh white clinical lights that flicker when the drill sounds
Mr J’s flowers are lit up with small pink LED’s - sickly ugly - a reminder of the sickly romantic life YW is expected to have

Episode 5: Prohibited

Episode 6: Intimate

One single light bulb hanging centre stage - soft dim yellow light - when the YW sees the bowl on the mantelpiece the light sharpens - she is formulating the idea to kill her husband
Shard of white light coming from a window top corner as if from the outside world

Episode 7: Domestic

Same lighting as Episode 2 - Soft blue wash like a dollhouse
Two lamps on either side of the sofa - the one on MR J’s side is bright and steady while YW’s is flickering - eventually shuts off completely
Glowing window frame of window - symbol of escape

Episode 8: The Law

Flood lights illuminate entire stage - no escape - YW winces and shys away from light, nobody else is bothered
Each person in court has a torch which they shine in the YWs eyes - under observation

Episode 9: Machinal

Dim lights which throb - waiting for death
When the black prisoner sings he is lit by a floor light so he is in silhouette
When the YW is taken backstage to die, the house lights turn on and flicker when she dies

What to Consider:

How might lighting be used in scenes that involve the inner thoughts of Helen?
What colours could be used to help establish the differences in location of the play?
How can lighting help to support the mood and atmosphere of different scenes?
How can lighting help to present the mechanical and cold world of the play?

Types of Light:

Profile - creates a focussed beam of light and has a hard, clearly defined circumference
Fresnel - lights up an area with a soft edge
Floodlight - used to give general lighting, floods the stage with light
Barn doors - four metal hinged flaps that are used to focus light by not letting the light spill out of a certain area - used on fresnels

Lighting Terms:

Gels - slotted in front of the light fitting to create different colours, however most lights today are LED lights which can create any colour
Gobo - metal stencil slotted in front of a Fresnel or a profile to create an image onstage
Key colours - straw for naturalistic warmth, cold steel blue for a cold atmosphere, bright white for a clinical unfeeling effect, red/orange for passion, pink for romance
Crossfade - slowly fade out one state whilst fading in the next - this could be used on a different area of the stage
Intensity - how bright the light is
Lighting state - which lights are used and how within a scene
Transition - from one lighting state to another
Candles - can be used if practical but would be supported by low level lighting
Shadows - consider how to create shadow - use angles of light from the wings, or create shadows on the cyclorama
Blackout - snap or fade
Gauze - fabric that appears solid when lit from the front and transparent when lit from behind - a lantern behind a gauze can create an interesting shadow or silhouette for the audience