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The non-IGCSE group of drama got into pairs and designed and modeled the set that they thought was appropriate to the play: Metamorphosis.

Dayna and Isabella’s group had a very good idea of keeping Fischer’s room hidden as this would symbolize his hidden character, however, their set was too big, creating too much empty space. There was also too much furniture. This would distract the audience from the purpose of the play and from the acting. Their color scheme was good however, with the green and blue representing the time when the play is supposed to be set (Victorian era) and contrasting with the carnivalesque colors of red, brown and orange.

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Hero and Wessels’s group did not think about sight-lines. Even though the wall splitting the hallway and Gregor’s room was a good idea, the audience on the left would not be able to see inside Gregor’s room, and the audience on the right would not be able to see what is going on in the hallway. I also didn’t like their use of colors as none of the colors actually matched or had meaning to the play. There was also too much furniture. The use of the trap-door was a clever idea though. There could be a carpet covering it.

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Joanna and Carolina’s group also didn’t think about sight-lines. Even though the lone doors were a good idea. This set also had too much furniture, and even had the kitchen, which is not even needed, in down center stage (one of the most important places on a stage). They had a mirror that was stuck to the wall which would be very interesting to see Gregor interact with and also having lots of symbolic meanings. The window was a very neat idea, however we don’t necessarily need it and we’re running out of time.

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Over all I think we will have a raised platform for Gregor’s room. Inside Gregor’s room there would definitely be a bed, and hopefully, there would be a standing mirror and the picture on the wall. The mirror symbolizing how the family sees Gregor as well as being the object which shows Gregor what he is. I think it will be very cool if the audience could only see a dark (or orangish light) on Gregor’s room while he is looking at himself in the mirror, maybe before Grete comes to see him in the second scene. It could be a short scene with carnivalesque music in the background, and he could faint which would cause the blackout. This would create an eerie mood, and when scene 2 starts, the abrupt change in mood would cause surprise and mystery tension. In the beginning, when everyone is in their poses, I believe that the same carnivalesque music should be playing which would foreshadow it playing in Gregor’s room. I believe the picture should be a picture of the Victorian age reflecting the poses of the characters and giving the play a time. On the floor, there would be a chair on right stage, and a table with a bench on the left stage. I think over all, there should only be the bed, the picture, and the mirror in Gregor’s room even though the characters interact with more furniture. If there was more furniture then the stage would get too crowded to confuse and distract the audience away from the whole point of the play and the acting. The frame and the mirror should be there because they’re very symbolic to the play, and the less furniture would make the audience focus more on the props. The bed should be there as it is very essential to the plot. I think it would be nice if we had a doorframe for the doors, which would give it more of a carnival-feel to the set along with painting the furniture and stage colors found in the Victorian era, such as gray and light blue, as well as orange and yellow colors that would match the carnival-like feel of the piece.

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To create the carnivalesque mood even more we could have red/yellow/orange lights, and maybe it could be nice if the actors could wear carnivalesque make-up which could resemble their character. I think one scene where the carnivalesque light would be most effective is the scene in between the short scene with Gregor and the mirror and the second scene. As nobody is talking there could be the carnivalesque music as well. Also during this scene, as time is supposed to be progressing, there should be a clock sped-up on the back wall/sheet while everything is going on. Maybe I could be twitching showing that even though time is progressing Gregor is still the same, right underneath the clock, underneath the sheet, symbolizing the meaning of the sheet more which also represents a cocoon. If there is time, the back wall/sheet should also be used to show the daily life of the Victorian era showing the audience what the era was all about. This idea is similar to Bertolt Brecht’s practices of drama: projecting images or texts relating to the play. I also think the hiddenness of Fischer’s room is a very good idea as it reflects his hidden personality to the family. However, this may be hard to set up, and if we can, it would be nice if we have the corridor on the right side of Gregor’s room with the door to Fisher’s room on the back wall so when Fischer goes to his room , he could hear Gregor. The front door would be on stage right as that is an important position for the audience to keep their focus.