A bit of elderberry wine...

So, I've recently discovered that blogger is often blocked on my high school campus. Which is very silly. Occasionally, there's this weird window when I can access it, but I don't really understand how or why. I'm choosing not to question it. But that's the reason for the lack of frequent posts...I usually do them during planning hour, and they're intended for my students, who can't access them.

BUT, I want to keep this thing alive, so here's a little shout-out to G. Benson again. What can I say, the man's a genius. Here are some of his set designs for "Arsenic and Old Lace" at BYU-Idaho in the Fall of 2010. For full details in the words of the designer himself, go here.

The play is a slightly morbid and delightful comedy about two elderly sisters who feel it is their Christian duty to ease lonely old men into the afterlife by poisoning them. Their family has a history of insanity, and all the action takes place in their quirky Victorian home.

Here are a several of the images and ideas that they wanted to incorporate into the design, and some of the ways they were used.

The director had the idea of making the home actually look like a FUNERAL PARLOR. Dark wood, wall sconces, velvet curtains, potted plants, and gothic windows gave the set that funeral feeling.

In production meetings, the design team also talked about the idea of the aunts being like black widows. (This was incorporated into the costume design as well--their "funeral attire" consisted of all black dresses with a large blood-red brooch at each of their throats.) In the set, the designer tried to incorporate as many different things as he could to suggest SPIDERWEBS. The wallpaper, the windows, and lace doilies were all full of intersecting lines. (Check 'em out in the other photos as well.)

The other concept that informed the design is the FAMILY HISTORY OF INSANITY and EVIDENCE OF A QUIRKY FAMILY. Old and strange family portraits lined the walls (including doctored photos of BYU-Idaho faculty), and bizarre objects are nestled here and there throughout the house, some noticeable, some subtle. (And check out all that spiderweb-iness all over...)

 

That elephant foot umbrella stand is one of my favorite parts of the set. I saw the show twice before I noticed it. One of the character (Uncle Teddy) is under the impression that he's actually Teddy Roosevelt, and this elephant leg is kind of an homage to the whole "hunting expedition in Africa" thing.

May you be inspired! Great work, as always, Benson.