Name – Nguyen Doan

Group#49 Your Element/Role - Director

Link to your project:

THEA 1331 Collaboration Design Project worksheet

Play script - Wintertime

Charles L. Mee, Adapted by Jon L. Egging

Read play, analyze its design needs (For sets, lights, costumes or direction) (includes inside/outside,

doors, windows, drawbridge, etc.)

Answer the following in complete sentences.

1. Write a paragraph summarizing what happens in your play:

A couple go to a house during the winter time to be alone. The man’s mom and dad come with their

partners and it turns into a fiasco because each one wanted alone time and the man had planned to

propose. It turns out the man’s partner had possibly had an affair with his mom’s partner and turmoil

ensues where they’re at each other’s throats. Two elderly women come into play when one of them falls

into a lake and the other seeks help. They impart their wisdom to the group. Maria and Hilda, the mom

and one of the elderly women decide to fake Maria’s death so that they will realize how much they

value each other and to teach them a lesson. They end up realizing the value of life and love and for the

most part resolve their feelings.

2. Describe where and when your play takes place (be specific about the year, the season, the time of

day and the specific place). Remember that this decision should be based on a collaborative discussion

with your team.

The play seems to be modern, taking place in around this day and age. It is obviously winter time as the

lake is iced over and everyone is going to the house to be with their partners. It takes place all in a house

near a lake.

3. What is the theme (or themes) of the play? (Another collaborative decision)

The value of Life

The importance of Love

4. How do you feel about the play? Is it happy, sad, exciting, funny, etc.? Explain what makes

you feel that way.

At first it seemed joyful and happy, but it quickly turned into a lot of conflict and tragedy at the end of

the first Act. Act 2 felt more heartwarming and thankful and ended happily.

5. What feeling should the viewer get when she or he looks at the setting/lights/costumes/production?

It should have a happy, warm feeling because of the wintertime feel with a couple coming to be happy,

but should eventually have a darker tone inside the house because of all the tension.

6. How will you help the viewer get that feeling? Consider the elements of design and how you

will use them.

I would put a fireplace to light up and resemble certain feelings and points of the play. Everything should

be close knit and be conducive to a lot of tension. The lights could be bright and happy at first and get

darker as the play gets more serious.

7. What style will you make your set/lights/costumes/production? Why?

Should be a cabin in the woods, probably with large wooden trunks and snow on top because its during

the wintertime at a house near a lake. Outside should be white and snowy and happy. Should be bright

lights until everything gets more serious to show the different feelings. Costumes should be modern and

casual, but accommodate for the winter setting because it set in a modern time. This would be a

modernistic production. All of this will enhance the story.

8. What could be a ruling metaphor of the play? A ruling metaphor is a visual theme: an image

that represents or emphasizes the theme of a play. An example of a ruling metaphor is the shape

of a tombstone (or perhaps a skull) in Death of A Salesman. A ruling metaphor suggests color,

shape, texture, mass, and/or scale.

We went with using a fireplace as the metaphor for the play. During the happy moments and there is

love in the air the fireplace can shine bright and represent the happiness. When there is tension and

discomfort, it can die out, representing how a relationship is dwindling. Another metaphor could be a

door, that opens and closes with the opening and closing of relationships.