The Debutantes Ball Free Essay Example, 1000 words

I was taken by the way the show united human emotions from two different cultures. It demonstrated the catch-22 which many Filipinos in America find themselves faced with. This catch-22 creates a state of cognitive dissonance for them, like it does for Ana in the play, when they try to blend in while also trying to stand out in a foreign country. Demonstration of stress was eye-opening for me and it helped me become more tolerant and sympathetic of other cultures in the US. First impression of the set of the show turned out to be very positive and it pretty much stayed the same till the end. The staging was captivating and well-constructed which went well to enhance beauty of the show. There were mesmerizing crystal chandeliers and bright draping curtains to complement the light emanating from the chandeliers which helped to create a magical effect on the set. Dancing moves of the actors synchronized well with the ups and down of the musical symphony and everything looked quite myst ique against a red and blue background. However, Eric Sumangli and other creators of the show took care to not go overboard with the set arrangements which made everything look simple, yet elegant. We will write a custom essay sample on The Debutantes Ball or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now As an avid theater fan, I go to a lot of show and it is not uncommon to encounter overly staged plays which are so fancy that it becomes quite an arduous task for the viewer to focus on the story and actors. The Debutante’s Ball struck me as a different kind of play because the stage or the set did not conceal the art displayed by actors in any way. A more basic or abstract set is more preferable for plays like this. It is easy to appreciate the play’s markedly reduced reliance on different kinds of stage props and elaborate decorations. The stage design seeks to emphasize on the story, not on decorations. It was this kind of stage design which helped me to focus more in a better way on the environment of the play and on the performance, costumes, and moves of actors. The set was used to bring out the theme of the play and integrate the audience’s imagination with that theme. The theme was to raise awareness about the Filipino American culture and struggles experienced by Filipino Americans. An abstract set helped to elevate this concept by creating a suggestive environment. There is a significant amount of empty space on the set in an abstract design which is obvious in case of the Debutante’s Ball also. An abstract set in the Debutante’s Ball used empty space to motivate viewers like me to use the ir imagination and fill it with their individual perceptions.