"Mud"
by Maria Irene Fornes
Scenic Design*by Julia van Broek
*This was an academic project and therefore was never realized on stage.
Artistic Concept
The artistic point of view regarding this production of Mud is that the relationships between the characters are twisted examples of desperation and repetition. Mae has never had a healthy perspective on men which is demonstrated by the fact that she thinks Henry is so wonderful. Lloyd is deranged and hates Henry, yet in the end the two of them are left only with one another. The design should reflect a world that is cyclical, monotonous, and is wearing itself thin. The house should appear as though it is being eaten away by termites and that it has been abandoned. All three characters a weary, and abandoned either by someone in their past or by each other.
The entire set will look like the inside of a log shack that could collapse at any moment. The slats should be uneven and sometimes overlapping, with gaps in between them. Light will shine through the gaps to create the appearance of outside daylight shining through the walls. The table will be square and wooden, and the chairs will all be different. One will be a craftsman style wooden chair with armrests, another a dining room chair with an upright back, and the third will be made out of a tree trunk with a seat cut into it in a very hasty practical manner. The fireplace will be made of rocks, that have been installed quickly and for practicality only. Nothing in the house should appear as though it were chosen because of its beauty or stylistic appeal. There will be muddy footprints tracked all over the floor, and any fabric, cushions, or curtains will be moth eaten, shabby, and stained.
The entire set will look like the inside of a log shack that could collapse at any moment. The slats should be uneven and sometimes overlapping, with gaps in between them. Light will shine through the gaps to create the appearance of outside daylight shining through the walls. The table will be square and wooden, and the chairs will all be different. One will be a craftsman style wooden chair with armrests, another a dining room chair with an upright back, and the third will be made out of a tree trunk with a seat cut into it in a very hasty practical manner. The fireplace will be made of rocks, that have been installed quickly and for practicality only. Nothing in the house should appear as though it were chosen because of its beauty or stylistic appeal. There will be muddy footprints tracked all over the floor, and any fabric, cushions, or curtains will be moth eaten, shabby, and stained.
Drafting
Centerline Section
Ground Plan
