Journal 23...
The staging of the "Lock-out" scene is more complicated then the rest of the play. To being with I would probably set up a wall that would cut the stage with a door in the middle of the wall. This door would not need to be visible to the audience, as it would be implied with the knocking on it. Each group would be situated on opposite sides of the wall and clearly visible to the audience. This scene could be done in both a representational and a presentational style. The scene involves Antipholus and his men are locked out, while Adriana and her attendants are inside taunting them and not letting them enter. This scene could be presented as representational, having the actors play up the frustration and completely be in the scene. This would give a break in the plays comic air. On the other hand, this scene could also be presented in a presentational style. This scene could be portrayed as overly funny, by playing out the anger as well but making it be obscurely overacted. The actors would be free to involve the audience in there want to get into the phoenix. While the actors playing inside could over acted the taunting.
Keep it simple stupid
I agree that there are a lot of ways to stage it and the tri-level is a very good idea, but the easier, the better. Shakespeare wrote this for the lower-class to enjoy as well, I think a good old fashioned "beat down the door" approach would be hilarious.
-Hilary
That's What I Thought
That's the same general idea I had for staging the scene. To use a wall and situate the people on either side, but after writing my second essay on the topic, I definitely don't think it would work. I prefer the idea of placing Adriana on a balcony and the others under her and bringing in a free-standing, working door to act as the door into the house. It makes the scene more dynamic to have the characters on different levels and not all on one plane of sight. The comedy becomes tri-level.
I agree... But?
I did the same essay as well and I did think the idea of a balcony was a good one as well. But in the essay it at one point said that Adriana would be on a balcony while the others were below her behind a door. So she would be outside talking to someone with in. I had thought that she could be on a balcony and that there should be like a courtyard and and exterior wall that the others would be behind. They opposite twins would then be knock on the exterior courtyard wall and not the door of the house. What do you think of that?
Yeah... but
The idea of a courtyard is good, except it poses a couple of problems. The biggest problem being set construction. It wouldn't be very easy to make a courtyard on stage mostly because many stages aren't big enough to makes the sense of space believable. Also getting that many set pieces would be a challenge since many stages don't have pre-existing balconies. There would have to be a working balcony, a door with people behind it, a courtyard, and then a wall with more people behind it. It just doesn't seem like construction wise it would be very efficient.
I personally prefer Shakespeare plays when they are done with very little set and more on a blank stage. It makes the acting more prominent and gives the actors more room to move.
This is true... What about?
This is true that the construction would be difficult but it would give the staging more dynamics. It would work in a bigger scale type production, but it would, I agree, be less likely in a stage that does not a have the pre-existing equipment for a balcony.
I also like plays that have more a minimal set design, as more attention is given to the act and not the scenery.
Another thought for the set would be some sort of skeleton house to be set on the stage that would have a door opening to the opposite side of the stage. What do you feel about that?
It would work
The idea of a skeleton house would work, but it would be alot going on for the audience to take in. Also people might not get it right away that even though physically the actors inside the house could see the ones outside, in the script for the play Adriana and the wrong Antipholus aren't supposed to see the men outside of the door. It could get confusing if the actor's didn't play it right. They would have to be very good at ignoring one another and not really look at them or else it wouldn't work.
Yeah...
There would most defiantly be a lot going on on the stage for the audience. This scene really does seem like it is a challenge to stage and it really depends on the directors opinion and the availability of set materials. I think any of these ideas could work if they are done correctly.