Jessie Johnsen-carr

Pictures of History:: the Scenographic Construction of Clifford Odets 1938 Play Rocket to the Moon Jessie Johnsen-carr

In a documentation of the set and costume design for Clifford Odets'' Rocket to the Moon (produced by the University of Calgary and performed at the University Theatre in Calgary, Alberta Canada in October, 2003), this book explores the concept of historical representation in performance. According to both Constantin Stanislavski''s methodology for actor training and Bertolt Brecht''s dramaturgical philosophies, scenic design for the theatre takes on a role that goes far beyond the basic function if indicating time and place. Even though Odets'' play takes place during a specific time in history, the play itself is less a realistic representation of that time, than a representation of how Odets viewed it. Therefore, the nature in which the environment of the play was crafted carried the potential of affecting the play''s interpretation, first by the director and actors, then by the designer and the rest of the creative team, and then consequently, by the audience itself.