Director's Vision
My director's vision for Ruined would be that the focus is mostly on the women and the violence they have gone through. The women in the play would be portrayed as strong women who have the courage to pick themselves up and keep going. Even though the women had the courage to start over, they are still in a lot of mental and physical pain. They numb this pain by drinking so that they can forget for awhile all the horrible acts of violence done to them, their family, and friends. Mama Nadi and Sophie represent the violence that has been inflicted on the women in the Congo. Sophie has hope that she can get an operation to "be repaired" and start a new life. Salima gives up all hope when she kills herself.
Theatrical Space
The theatrical space I chose for this production is The Athens Theatre in Deland. The reason I chose this space is because it's not a large theatre and I feel this production should be in a smaller theatre because this is a very serious, emotional subject that should be played in a more intimate space. I think that feeling would get lost in a large space. This theatre has a proscenium stage so the play would take place at a distance but not so far that anything would be lost to the audience. Another reason I chose this theatre is because it was recently restored and I feel like this represents the women in the story (how they have picked themselves up and started a new life). I would want the audience to be adults since this plays subject is not something for children.
Scenic Design
For the scenic design I would have the play set in the 90's when the war began. I would not want to change the place so I would keep it set in the Congo. I think changing the place would change the history and I don't feel like you can do that with this piece. The bar it would be set in would be a little run down, with few props to represent the unraveling of their world from this war. The outside of Mama Nadi's house would look like a wooden shack. The chairs would be worn and nothing would match in the bar (the chairs, tables, glasses, etc.). It would show a place without a lot of money. The style would be realistic because I feel like there is nothing fake about this play or subject. Everything on the set would be something you would actually see in a bar. There would be a lot of curved lines in the furniture to represent the instability. Grey drapes would be hung at the back of the stage to represent the dreary situation.
Costume Design
The costumes would be realistic also. The civilians and the rebel soldiers clothing would be worn and very simple, with no embellishment. The rebel soldiers would not have a uniform but would have guns and knives. The women at Mama Nadi's would be scantily dressed with short skirts and low cut tops made from cotton and spandex to allow for movement. The women's clothes would be a lot of bright colors: red, fuchsia, and purple. The government soldiers would be wearing neatly pressed, olive green military uniforms. They would have fully automatic weapons. Mr Harari and Christian would wear nice but worn, tan linen suits except for the final scene where Christian enters in a brand new tan linen suit, eager to impress Mama Nadi. The actors would wear straight makeup to enhance their facial features and keep them from being washed out under the lights.
Lighting Design
The lighting would be different for each scene depending on what characters are coming into Mama Nadi's "house." When the women are entertaining Mr Harari, the miners or the rebel soldiers, there would be swirling lights on the floor to capture the rhythm and movement. When Christian stops by there would just be daylight, signifying the possibility of a new beginning for Mama Nadi. The light would get a red glow to it when the government soldiers stop by, signifying danger. Some of the lighting would be front lighting filled out with lights from other angles to give the actors a three-dimensional view. We would also have area lighting to make sure that all parts of the stage were covered with light.
Sound Design
We would hear the sounds of the war in the background throughout the play (screams of women, children, and shots fired). The majority of the music would come from Sophie singing. At the end of the play when Mama Nadi dances with Christian we would hear an uplifting song symbolizing hope, even for "the ruined." Since the play would be set in a smaller theatre, we wouldn't have to worry about the actors being heard.
