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Noelani Scarlett
DRAM 1310
Professor Lisa Hale
Feb. 22, 2020
Play Critique #1
The title of the production I am in is called The Tale of the Winged Monkeys adaptation
by written and co-directed by Obie Winner, James Ortiz and Shannon Armstrong put on by the
Collin College Theatre Center. I am actually a cast member of the show. I was casted on Jan.
26th, 2020.
Overall, I love being able to be a part of an original show. Being able to help the directors
create all the moments and the pictures in the show has been a real enlightening experience. The
production communicates cultural differences, love and social differences. Ultimately, the show
is man vs man and man vs self in a sense. The main characters have to come over differences to
make compromises and be able to help the other in any way they can while trying to persevere
their own way of life.
The set design is in the John Anthony Theatre and it takes place in a round on the stage.
The time period is the very being of the land of Oz before Dorothy was every dropped off by a
tornado. It is a realistic has the audience wants it to be. The same set pieces are used as different
places depending on when and where we are in the scene. An example of this would be our
mountain. It used as a mountain, stairs and a tunnel in three different parts of the show.
Ultimately the set design accomplishes more than what we could imagine. Scenically, it is
beautiful and really adds to angles that we are able to create in the show.
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To be honest, we do not have that many props within the show. We mostly use puppets to
tell help the story we are trying to communicate to the audience. They are more realistic than
they are metaphoric. They are same place holders of things that you would normally use in
everyday life. One of the props is a lantern and it goes from one of the refugees and the main
girl, Gaylettle, takes it with her into the forest as a transition into another scene. Another prop
that we actually have two of is the wand that Gaylettle uses. One of them is a full wand and
another one is a broken wand. Gaylettle is the only one that uses the wand expect when in the
wolf attack it breaks, and they switch it out. The design of props is genius, even though we use
so little it really helps tell the story.
The time period is the Land of Oz before Dorothy comes to Oz. My character is a refugee
and so my clothes are beat up because we have neem traveling to get away from the Wicked
Witch of the West. I am able to move about the space and I am able to control a puppet within
my clothes. Gaylettle is wearing clothes that make her stand out to the rest of the refugees that
she is traveling with. The design of the costumes helps the actors be able to move about the
space in a safe way and still be able to tell the story. There are only two main characters in the
story, so their costumes reveal and give some details about themselves but not touch much
information.
The overall look of the make-up is really basic and kind of dirty. We have been traveling
a lot, so we have dirt on our faces, and we are worn out and tired of the traveling into the
mountains. The only two characters in the show also wear the same kind of make up as the
refugees to not give way any surprises with the show.
The lights help you put the story together. It helps tell the magic of the story and be able
to experience what the characters are feeling in the moment. One moment is the love scene that
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happens in the middle of the story. The lights are low, and they light up the characters just
enough to see that they are connecting with each other in this scene. Another example is when
the wolves are attacking the village. (Spoiler) It is dark red, and people are flashing on and off
stage and there is so much magic and attacking happening that your eyes would be able to find a
scene within the scene itself. This design is very successful. As actors some of cues are based off
of the light in this play. So, it definitely helps us to be able to when it is time to move on the next
scene.
The sound is actually made by the actors and musicians live. We do not use any
microphones or anything. You are able to live in the moment with us. And experience what the
audience is seeing as well. One example is the forest sounds that we make as Gaylettle is
walking the forest and you can feel like you are walking with her in the moment. Another
example is when the wolves are attacking the refugees. The crying of the wolves and howling of
the monkeys is happening all around you. Like a surround sound. The design of this smart
because then you do not have to worry about a machine cutting out when the actors are the ones
making the sound.
For this play the acting and the directing were constructed by both of them. James Ortiz
wanted the us (the actors) to be apart in the decision making about how we would act in all the
scenes and what we would be doing. This took something to get used to. I am used to directors
having a vision that they already have in mind and then we put that vision into play. Being a part
of the process made me feel like I could have an input on how I saw the scene. However, he still
had the last say on what we did, and he did use a lot of our ideas in the show. It felt like a team
effort putting this play together. I believe the meaning that James Ortiz is telling the audience
that anything that was once good can be bad as well.
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I strongly recommended that everyone one come and see this show! We have been
training with the puppets like crazy and want to be able to put on the best show possible. Other
than that, the story and characters are what really make this play amazing. How it flows to the
next part of the scene is so clear would be able to see the changes in it. The other reason why I
recommend this show is because it is so different and dynamic this is a show you would not want
to miss.