Triffles Response

Designing Susan Glaspell's, Triffles, as ultra minimalistic is a fascinating idea. I see where this director is coming from because I think this play has enough emotion and conflict that period costumes are not needed and could possibly distract from what is at the heart of the play. On the other hand, a minimalistic look could present problems and confusion for the audience. For example, the text implies that the play is set back in a time when women did not have a voice and worked solely in the house. The County Attorney emphasizes this culture by criticizing Mrs. Wrights lack of good housekeeping and also by Mrs. Wright worrying about her fruit becoming frozen. If historically appropriate costumes were to be used, audiences would automatically understand the culture and time period. Though, if the characters were in all black, the audience would not know what time period it was and therefore would be confused about some of the characters words and actions. Continuing with the abstract look, the director said she or he would use only simple, black blocks and chairs for furniture. This idea for the set would absolutely take value and meaning out of the play. The whole first half of Triffles presents Mr. Hale physically walking through the house and pointing out what he had seen the day before. The reality of this would appear to the audience if a naturalistic rocking chair, a naturalistic bedroom, and a naturalistic kitchen were set up. The audience has Mr. Hale to give them a visual image through words, but if the set does not physically reflect his descriptions, there will be no believability for the audience or the actor. An ultra-stripped down version of Triffles would allow the audience to focus solely on the people, but ultimately it would leave the audience feeling lost without any picture of what happened.