A. The Pillars of Society is relevant to nearly every culture and time period because it discusses the issues that arise from social and political pressures. At a deeper level, The Pillars of Society commemorates the spirit of truth and freedom through a plot centered on social relationships. Further, this play includes feminist values by having a significant female character who portrays strength and importance. Ibsen's advocacy of feminist values is interesting considering the time period in which he lived. I connected with the fact that there are so many restrictions in my life and in society today that are related to social expectations. As a result, I felt liberated after watching how The Pillars of Society emphasized that by setting one's own standards of truth, one is free of limits that might not have even existed.
B. This play was translated, directed, and produced by a Korean theatre company in partnership with a Korean Henrik Ibsen specialist.
C. This particular rendition of The Pillars of Society was conducted on a proscenium stage. What I found interesting about the set design was the illusion of a stage within a stage. The setting, props, and actors were all inside a white rectangular box which tilted vertically as the story progressed. The lighting, props, and setting were consistent throughout the performance because the basic setting never drastically changed. However, details like the man made "weather" outside the window, posters, and lighting used to provide notion of passing time, were constantly transitioning. The actors performed in a traditional method acting style which I personally found appropriate for The Pillars of Society.
What influences and Inspirations might you use in your work as?
a. performer: I see method acting as a basic standard worth striving for. This is because I think it is extremely admirable how some actors are able to completely immerse themselves into a character. Such dedication, talent, and technical skills required to perform in this fashion are goals I would like to pursue as a performer.
b. creator and designer: The ability to deliver a metaphor through the use of the white rectangular frame is something I would like to achieve.
c. As a director I would focus on bringing life to all characters but also focusing on my main character through the development and dialogues with supporting roles.
a. What did I learn as an artist from this play? I learned that it was possible to conduct an entire play in one setting with minimal changes. Even though the whole play took place inside the common room of a noble house the director was able to include external happenings. For example, when the characters on stage were looking at a boat in the distance the actors looked, pointed, and gaped at the direction in which the audience was sitting. The director was able to show this scene without having to changing the entire background.
b. What do I learn about gesture/movement/face/body and voice? I learned that every movement and gesture of the face and body contribute to the over all deliverance of a character on stage. This is why I believe that complete immersion into character and focus is crucial. The actor has to believe it in order for the audience to believe it. So I learned that when performing on stage it is important to put meaning into every gesture and movement of body and face.
c. What did the director do to have an impact and intention? The director emphasized dialogue and thus showed multiple conversations in order to explain the complex situation of Bernick's family. The director also used the set design of the white rectangular box as a metaphor which can be interpreted as a visualization of how chaos was escalating with the progression of every scene.
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