Theatrical Performance Bouncers Essay Example

were at the bloody vender, what sort of lame excuse is that sit your asses down."

The use of rough language created a specific atmosphere and mood during the play. The blokes who were enjoying a night out to hook up and drink appeared relaxed and fluent, but as bouncers, their movements were very controlled and confident. This was in stark contrast to the erratic movements of the blokes who seemed to be all over the place. For instance, in the pub, their movements lacked control or planning. Additionally, the lads always stayed close together and were afraid to venture too far apart. If one went to the toilet, they all went. They appeared to be slightly different copies of each other.

The actresses all held handbags as props and symbols to represent their female roles. The handbags served as a signal to the audience that they were portraying female characters, along with their unique language and movements. All the characters were exaggerated caricatures, particularly the female characters. These female characters were based on real personalities that we have all encountered at some point in our lives; everyone has come across a 'Plain Elaine' and a 'Sexy Susie'! However, there was one issue with men playing exaggerated female characters. Some viewers may have perceived the actors more as four masculine men rather than four men portraying exaggerated female caricatures.

The actors successfully convinced me by portraying themselves as exaggerated male and female caricatures, rather than pretending to be women. This exaggeration made the character changeover obvious to the audience. While some transitions were slightly flawed, there were numerous moments of very effective morphing. For example, one scene showed

the four men in a taxi urinating out of the window, only to have it blow back on them. In response, they stood up, kicked back their chairs, and exclaimed, "look at this mess," instantly reverting back to their roles as bouncers. Another character shifted from a confrontational stance to a friendly wave and said, "take care mate" as a bouncer. In another scene, Sexy Susie and plain Elaine danced with the men, engaging in a slow-motion fight to make it visually impactful.

During the fight, the girls were on top of the boys, hitting them. Eventually, they transformed into bouncers who were removing troublemakers. This transformation included a shift from slow motion to real time. The props used were minimal and consisted of stools, underwear, a bucket, and handbags. The set was simple, with no need for elaborate signals to convey the setting.

The utilization of lighting in the production of Bouncers was essential for conveying the characters' whereabouts and identities. For instance, a chilly blue wash of lighting was employed outside the club to depict the presence of the bouncers. Inside the club, flashing lights were utilized, while in the taxi scene, an orangey glow set the atmosphere. Without adequate lighting, it would have been more challenging to communicate to the audience the characters' location and roles. Unlike Shakespeare's time when sophisticated lighting was absent, he had to incorporate descriptive lines like "the birds were whistling," "the sun rose," and "the moon said goodnight" to indicate the setting. In contrast, Bouncers relied heavily on lighting rather than dialogue or explicit references to establish clarity for the audience, except for the hairdressers scene. Hence, lighting played

a vital role in the overall production.

Although not as crucial as lighting, the music played a significant role in the production. It contributed to various scenes, such as the music on the dance floor and Elaine's bag swaying with the rhythm. The reliance on music was evident throughout the show, as it enhanced the slow motion effect and made it more believable. The play that Godber originally wrote in 1980 has undergone significant changes for the production we witnessed. Many references have been updated to ensure its relevance and resonance with the audience. Current issues, such as Osama bin Laden and Goths, have also been incorporated into the production.

The club appeared to be just like any other regular club. The costumes and characters were believable, making it seem like a typical Saturday night club in Southampton. The bouncers used strong language and sexual references, which could have been offensive to some individuals. However, I believe that these references were necessary and appropriate for the play to have a realistic feel. The language used in the play was contextually appropriate, although some of it was unnecessary. The excessive swearing captured the audience's attention and elicited a response, even though it did not contribute to the story. I was surprised when Lucky Eric, an older and more mature character, expressed thoughts that were beyond what one would expect from Eric himself. This added depth and intelligence to Eric's character. The older version of Eric within him realized that not all sexual experiences were positive and was offended by young girls sacrificing their childhood in order to appear older and be taken advantage of.

The theatre company Goodie

Zombee effectively portrayed the significant messages behind lucky Eric's speeches. Utilizing the humour of unfortunate situations, the company ensured the audience's attention remained focused, allowing the important messages to be conveyed successfully. Had the production consisted solely of lucky Eric's speeches, the audience may have lost interest, resulting in the messages going unnoticed.

The theatre company aimed to elicit sympathy for Lucky Eric among the audience. Despite being constantly picked on by the other characters he played, Lucky Eric's speeches and inner emotions were visible to the audience, creating dramatic irony. The audience ended up appreciating him more than the other characters did, as he displayed wisdom and maturity. The use of humor facilitated the delivery of important messages to the audience by keeping their attention and making the speeches more engaging. In my opinion, the theatre company was successful in conveying strong messages that stayed with me even after the production concluded.