Unit 3 Exhibition

Unit 3 Exhibition
The Importance of Being Earnest
Costume Designs: Algernon & Cecily
(with sketchbook on shelf)
Photography by: Marina Bussandri

I'm pleased with how my Unit 3 final exhibition came together. Painting the wooden wall white, and making the shelf for my sketchbooks transformed the entire space into something with a much richer context and a fuller understanding for the viewer.
Making the decision to arrange the three costume/ character designs was pretty difficult. I had tried vertical, horizontal, diagonal and random arrangements but I feel i chose the right one. Incorporating the sketchbook into the exhibit was important for me because it enabled he viewer to see the process behind my designs, the way in which I work as well as the technicalities of the costume designs which are hard to understand from the A3 drawings.
It was a great thing to collaborate with the rest of the class in getting the room ready for the exhibition, it was a stressful week but we helped each other with our problems and it was such a good feeling to see it all coming together. Being around such impressive work in such a range of techniques and design approaches has really inspired me and given me a greater desire to experiment outside my comfort zone.

Full Cast Sketches

Using silhouettes I was able to visualise the entire cast together which created a richer and fuller context of my production of the chosen text. I am contemplating making a larger version of this to exhibit with my final costume designs for Algernon and Cecily However if I choose to incorporate the sketchbook into the exhibit it may be nicer to keep the walls cleaner.

Page from Unit 3 Sketchbook
Photography by: Marina Bussandri

The Cast

Melissa McCarthy - Dr. Rev Chausable

Diane Keaton - Miss Prism

Lauren Graham - Gwendolen

Brittany Snow - Cecily

Saskia de Brauw -Algernon

Tilda Swinton - Lane

Meryl Streep - Lady Bracknell

Corinna Ingenleuf - Jack/ John Worthing

Kathy Bates - Merriman

Characters & Their Costumes

Page from Unit 3 Sketchbook
Algernon, Act Two: Short Suit & Slippers

Page from Unit 3 Sketchbook
Cecily, Act Two: Dress & Ballet Pumps

Reworking Victorian Wallpaper Prints

Algernon Suit Experimentation

"Table"

Amazing! Just, amazing! Possibly the best thing I've ever seen in my entire life.
The collaboration of a well-written play with a touching message about family ancestry and relationships; backed with incredible acting, singing and choreographed movement made for a spectacular show.
At the beginning, things don't make sense. I didn't quite understand it all. However, it was so engaging, well performed, and consequently I could enjoy it greatly it even without fully comprehending all the character's relationship's. As it starts to piece together, and things start to click the performance became more and more enjoyable. By the end, the audience was on the edge of their seats.
There was an emotional journey, with highs of laughter and moments of pure emotion, sadness, anger, regret, sympathy. I found it astonishing how in one piece of theatre there could be such a contrast in laughter and comedy and then a silent room of audience members choking up.
Another aspect of the play that I was very impressed with, was that the cast (9 members) play six generations of family members, and people in their lives. Consequently one actor will be playing many parts, both incredibly different in character and age, yet it was so credible that a fifty-something year old actor could go from playing a grandfather to a child, and both were as believable as each other.
A highlight for me, is the 'hippy' scene. The characters are living in a communal home and are having their weekly meeting to raise issues of concern but have to speak in turn, by using 'the stone'. The manic but well choreographed movements along with the comedy just make for a spectacular scene.
Written by Tanya Ronder and directed by Rufus Norris; this special play family, heritage, and one precious piece of furniture is, without-a-shadow of a doubt, a must-see!