Theater Project 2014

1. The Woolgatherer
Written by William Mastrosimone
Directed by Xuan Dao
Lighting design by Mai Thao Nguyen
Costume design by Jessica Francois
Set design by Linh Phuong Tran

2. Script
Act I:
- Dramatic situation is entirely ordinary and both characters
are dangerously close to being stock figures
- Cliff and Rose are the protagonist, both are ‘woolgatherer’
as against the painful realities of their rather gritty existences
- They start the play by making romantic connection,
budding relationship, where tender passion can decentralize
into violent hostility at any moment
- Using metaphor of birds to illustrate Rose’s spirit

3. Theme
Fantasy - loses touch with reality
Love – when the couple got beyond those qualities,
they found a mutual susceptibility and longing

4. Style
Comic romance
- Cliff’s taunts are not uncharitable and the contrast
between the two creates comic conflict in the “Odd
Couple” vein
- Rose’s loveliness and Cliff’s rugged independence were
probably the initial attractants.

5. Casting
Rachel McAdams plays as Rose
- Grace and enthusiasm
- Brings a nuance emotionally to
her characterization
Channing Tatum plays as Cliff
- Good looking guy with six-pack
- He expresses his rising frustration
with control and credulity
- Sustain their American accents
flawlessly and consistently

6. Rehearsals
Rachel McAdams is unfailingly real
and sincere in her precise
preservation of the the balance
between hopelessly wretched and
comically nutty
Channing Tatum travels around
those hazards, presenting a degree of
manly gruffness blended with a
delightfully charming presence
Both actors create convincing
characters
Their generosity of spirit in
contributing all proceeds
They deserve high admiration for the
attentiveness required to bring
William Mastrosimone’s script to life
with the audience so close.

7. Light Design

8. Visibility and Form
Light bulbs – high side light,
on the top help audiences
focus on two actors and help
shape the form of the actors
from another perspective
angle.
Lamp – side light, on the
table of Rose’ room so the
audiences could see the
actors’ faces more clearly.

9. Visual composition and
Reinforcing
To help the audiences focus on the story that Rose tells Cliff
about her past. The composition of large area of the light in
Rose’ room turn focus into Rose and Cliff.
Spotlight : creating mood and contribute feeling for the
audiences

10. Time and place
Black curtain on the back wall represent night time
Lamp, bed, table represent the room and indoor.

11. Rhyme and Mood
Color lights when the scene meet its climax as Rose tells
Cliff that she got raped.
Violin sounds
Light color slowly faded and become dimmed lights at
the end.

12. Set Design
Set Design

13. Scene Design
The play begin at an
efficiency apartment where
the single bed lied next to a
board-up window hidden
cheap curtains.
On the other side of the bed
is a small table go along with
an old wooden chair.
Across the bed is a closet
which face with a door that
leading to the hallway.

14. Mood and Style
The scene has effectively
conveyed the dark and
furnished environment
in which Rose has lived
her loneliness life.
With a board-up window
with the bare walls which
conveyed the outcast
feeling of the room
which Rose shut people
out of her life.

15. Realistic Theatre
Selected and reproduced
onstage an actual room
from an apartment, which
included wallpaper, light
fixtures, furniture, etc.
The room would be
resemble, but not
duplicate, its real-life
counterpart.

16. Locale and Period
The play occurred around in the 90s at an apartment of a small
town of South Philadelphia.

17. The Design Concept
Supple work with these two
complex performers to
create a perfect performance
that include way of speaking
during the 20th century.
And the concept must be
instructed by the director
that would match with the
script.

18. Costume Design: Rose
Rose is modest and lonely so she will
wear clothes that almost completely
cover her body
She is at home and should be
dressed comfortably
She wears a men’s sweater from her
old roommate
It will be a plain color because of
her modesty
The sweater will appear old
She has had it for a significant time
She does not have money to
upgrade or repair her clothing
Play was created in 1979 and
produced in 1981
Clothing will be slightly adapted for
today’s time period as the setting
at the beginning says “now”

19. Costume Design: Rose
Makeup will be simple and
minimal
No money to afford
Hair will be disheveled but
not completely messy
She lives alone and works in
a candy shop by herself
She will not be wearing any
jewelry
She is modest and cannot
afford
She wears an old men’s
sweater

20. Costume Design: Rose
She will wear jeans that
are loose
She eats food that is
thrown away
She is thin
Old tennis shoes
To accompany the
men’s sweater and
loose jeans

21. Costume Design: Cliff
Slightly dirty shirt
without sleeves
Spends time in truck
Maybe tried to look
under hood of truck
Simple, yet sarcastic
attitude

22. Costume Design: Cliff
Hiking boots
Sturdy for truck rides
Thick for warmth if
sleeping in truck
Old

23. Costume Design: Cliff
Tattered and slightly
baggy jeans
Thick jeans for warmth
and sturdiness when
driving
Movement on stage
Comfortable for actor
Comfortable for driving
trucks

24. Costume Design: Cliff
Makeup will be added
for a “dirty” look
Basically lives in truck
Makes few stops
From truck breaking
down

25. The Woolgatherer
Arena Theater Houston
June 28th to July 5th, 2014
The Autumn/Winter tour
Showtime starts at 2:30 pm