Oakland University put on a production of Great Expectations. The play was put on by the students. The acting was good considering the actors, students, are not professionals. Although a directors role is not seen in viewing the play, because of the production, seemed to have gone smoothly. The play itself was in the Varner Studio Theatre, which limit's the amount of space the director had to work with. A larger set would have been better for this production. The scenery was typical to the setting. The scenery was used not only to serve as a background, and setting, but it also sets a mood for the certain scene. The costumes are not only a visual part of the production, but they put the actor in their characters "shoes" allowing the audience to suspend their sense of reality and to be engulfed in the atmosphere of the play while it is taking place. Lighting is also essential to the production. Bright lights give the audience a sense of day-time or happiness. A dark and poorly lit set give the audience a sense of sadness, eerie, and night-time. The director can use this aspect to set the mood for the particular scene. For example, the graveyard in the beginning of the play is dark and gloomy. This sets the mood for the events that take place. The music in a play is important to help set the mood, but not crucial. In a musical the music is obviously essential.
The lighting in this play serves as one of the biggest roles. A lighting director must realize the importance of the different kinds of lighting, and different ways to illuminate the room, or one particular area. There are three key things the lighting must do. It must provide ambient illumination for orientation and general tasks taking place. It must provide task illumination which focuses on specific tasks taking place. It must also provide accent illumination to highlight special objects or action of interest. Proper use of key lights and fill lights is essential.
