Medieval Drama:

Don’t You Forget About The Costuming/Music/Website Group

‘Dressing’ The Play: Costuming

– The costuming of “The Castle of Perseverance” is mentioned in the included stage drawing.

– The playwrights instructed for Belial to be fitted with such props as gunpowder in burning pipes (held within his hands, ear and anus) when he goes into battle.• This is why Belial makes several “explosive

gas” jokes throughout the piece—this evokes the “burning” sensation…

The Translated Diagram

‘Dressing’ The Play: Costuming

– The diagram also instructs that the Four Daughters are to wear mantles, with Mercy in white, Righteousness in red, Truth is green and Peace in black.– The Four Daughters were otherwise

dressed very plainly, as they represented purity and simplicity.• For our play, we broke away from the

designated color scheme, focused on representing “teacher” appearance and character definition

‘Dressing’ The Play: Costuming• Applied our knowledge of traditional

medieval costumes to our own rendition, which adapts costumes to fit the 80s theme/Breakfast Club undertones– Elaborate “Angel” and “Demona”

costumes:• By the fifteen century, simplisticcostuming was no longer desired—instead, actors wore exotic robes andangels and other virtuous characterswere typically fitted with gilded limbs,halos and ornate wings.• This is why Angel wears a golden Hair band

‘Dressing’ The Play: Costuming

– Grungy “Devil” attire:• In Medieval plays, the devil was often dressed intricately, often with horns, a tail and other embellishments.• In the fifteenth century, Satan and his other devils were popular with audiences, and therefore their costumes were further embellished with

grotesque masks, lashing tails, fangs and snouts that were often shades of black, red and blue.

– This is why Demona wears red, ornate jewelry and heels

‘Dressing’ The Play: Costuming

• Common “Mankind” attire:– Mankind was typically dressed commonly as he is meant to represent society.– The rendition to the right—of Mankind fighting off Death— evidences a typical costume of robes and simple

shoes.– For Manny, we used the medieval concept of

changing costumes:• Overalls/straw hat and flannel shirt• With the Vices: overalls and black shirt• With the Virtues: overalls and light shirt• Graduating with the Vices: jeans + black shirt

‘Dressing’ The Play: Costuming

– Virtues• In matching uniforms and good order:• 80’s themed: cheerleaders shirts, short skirts

(purchased by students), side-pony tails, graduation dresses

– Vices• Appear cooler, more seductive and appealing

than the Virtues:– Dark clothing, red for the Bad Angel, green for

Greed– 80’s themed: flannel shirts, sleeveless shirts, torn

clothing, spandex, cutoffs, big hair

Livening The Set: Props– Original Props:

• Very few props in the original play enabled creative liberties and ability to express both 80’s theme and medieval elements

– Props• Vices:

– Accentuate tough appearance:» Smoking, drinking, chains and knives, squirt guns, food for

Gluttony, porn magazine for Lust

•Virtues;– Light, innocent appearance:

» Bubble guns, possible pom-poms, books and organizers

– Purchasing: Adams County Rescue Mission, Walmart, household items

Challenges Along the Way– Making the fight realistic, chaotic and

coherent in terms of prop use– Creating real division between Virtues and

Vices in terms of prop use and appearance• How bad can the Vices be?• How good can the Virtues appear?

– How should God appear?– Cost budgeting

• Bubble guns, Manny’s costume, cheerleaders

– Looking realistic, recreating 80’s theme– Leaving room for creative differences while

maintaining unity in costuming

Enhancing Awareness: Website

• Clearly a “modern” component but with Medieval roots

– Similar to town criers, which came about in the 18th century

• Town criers attracted people's attention by carrying a handbell and shouting, “Oyez, oyez” before making an announcement. ‘Oyez’ meant ‘hear ye.’

– Enhancing student involvement and student awareness of the production

– “Meeting ground,” so to say, with chat function

Setting The Tone: Music• Most music during Medieval productions was one

of two types:– Liturgical Drama sung monophonically– Vernacular: Various types of music are introduced

into spoken dialogue• We decided to shy away from liturgical music

and took a “vernacular” approach• Wanted a mix of live music and recorded music• Songs were chosen on a literal basis

– Particular attention played to most current theme• Example: “Changes” when Manny changes his

clothes• “Hot for Teacher” when Fee is teaching class

• Wanted music to augment the current section of the play

Droppin’ The Beat: Specifics

• “Hot For Teacher” -Van Halen• “Don’t Stop Believing” -Journey• “Our House” -Talking Heads• “Changes” -David Bowie• “Hip To Be Square” -Huey Louis & The News• “Beat It” -Michael Jackson• “In The Air Tonight” -Phil Collins• “Total Eclipse of The Heart” -Bonnie Tyler• “Cocaine” -Eric Clapton• “Here I Go Again On My Own” -Whitesnake• “Don’t You Forget About Me”-Simple Minds