| smiley_programme_notes.docx |
Set description. Smiley
At the play’s opening the stage is divided into three distinct areas where the actors will perform independently of each other. To the right, in the gloom, is a microphone on a square wooden dais that rises a few inches off the ground where an Elvis impersonator and his backing singer perform. There is a portable music system on the dais used for their background music.
Centrally the main lighting reveals a boxing punch bag suspended from the ceiling where a young woman trains. To the left is a dark office reached by stairs. It has a plain desk without drawers on which sits a fax/phone machine and a closed laptop. As the light shifts to this area other items of furniture are revealed. Seating consists of a high backed leather swivel chair at the desk, a moulded plastic seat to the left of it, and small square stool in front of it. Behind and to the right of the desk is a square metal floor safe, and on the left a four-drawered filing cabinet.
The back wall of the stage has a cement block wall with an angled opening, revealing a set of stairs with metal railings used as scenes change.
A square wooden bar with a brass foot rail at the base is wheeled in at various times throughout the play, as required. It is open at the back allowing actors to move behind the bar. There are beer mats and optics on the counter and two high backed bar stools on each end. On the back wall is a copy of Andy Warhol’s pop art portrait of Queen Elizabeth 2nd, which consists of four copy images of her head and shoulders in lurid colours.
Suspended above the stage is an impressive light installation consisting of 25 bright spot lights in a square metal frame. It provides much of the stage lighting. Most of the furniture props are on wheels enabling quick changes to take place. Circles of red and blue disco lights and pop music herald each change of scenery.
Other scenery changes include a Perspex bus stop with a seat, and the words “Adshel” on the windows, a black litter bin is outside it.
A changing room reached by stairs, containing a low wooden bench, and a battered graffiti-sprayed locker of nine compartments.
A corridor outside the changing room with a water dispenser.
A neat ladies changing room with green painted lockers and a bench to match. It has a flip board for notes.
A park with trees and a park bench.
An indoor football pitch inside a leisure centre with a goal net manned by a goalie.
Towards the end of the play, the stage will again be divided into separate sections where we can observe the action taking place in the office independently of those in the ladies changing room. The stage will divide one last time to show a park bench at dusk, while on the left Elvis and his backing singer perform against a backdrop of a spiky red sun and swirls that change colour as they spin.
CHARACTER AND COSTUME DESCRIPTION FOR "SMILEY"
There are eight characters in the play : three female, and five male.
Smiley is the title character of the play. He is middle-aged, small and slim with a toned physique. He has short dark brown hair worn off the face, and is slightly balding at the back of his head. He is unshaven with a light beard and moustache. He has deep set eyes and dark heavy eyebrows.
He wears a v-necked t-shirt under a light sports jacket, jeans and casual shoes.
Tommy ( Smiley's son)is in his late teens, and is small and slight with long brown hair. He has dark thick eyebrows and an oval face. He wears a knitted hat under which we see his long hair, a loose fitting shirt worn open over a t-shirt, baggy jeans and boots.
Elaine is Tommys ex-wife. She is very slim with long brown wavy hair, worn off her face. She has high cheek-bones and pouty lips. She wears a jacket over a low-cut v-neck top, a figure-hugging knee-length pencil skirt, lacy tights, and high-heeled ankle boots. She carries a handbag slung over her shoulder.
Tara is the night club owner. She has short cropped hair with no fringe, wide-set eyes, a broad forehead and thin mouth. She is middle-aged with a sturdy build. She wears a mannish dark grey suit with cropped trousers and very high-heeled black shoes. The suit has sparkly decorations on the shoulders and front. Under the jacket is a white v-necked blouse.
Malcolm is her assistant. He is in his fifties and sturdily built. He wears a black knitted hat so that we can't see his hair and is unshaven. He wears a black bomber jacket zipped up and black tracksuit bottoms. On his hands are black fingerless gloves
Aaron is a singer and Elvis impersonator in the club. He is small and plump. When performing he wears a white tight-fitting satin suit with a high collar at the back. The suit has fringing which dangles from the sleeves. He has a matching white satin scarf with red fringing and a sparkly red waistband. He wears high-heeled ankle boots.
When he is not performing her wears jeans and a casual jacket.
At the play’s opening the stage is divided into three distinct areas where the actors will perform independently of each other. To the right, in the gloom, is a microphone on a square wooden dais that rises a few inches off the ground where an Elvis impersonator and his backing singer perform. There is a portable music system on the dais used for their background music.
Centrally the main lighting reveals a boxing punch bag suspended from the ceiling where a young woman trains. To the left is a dark office reached by stairs. It has a plain desk without drawers on which sits a fax/phone machine and a closed laptop. As the light shifts to this area other items of furniture are revealed. Seating consists of a high backed leather swivel chair at the desk, a moulded plastic seat to the left of it, and small square stool in front of it. Behind and to the right of the desk is a square metal floor safe, and on the left a four-drawered filing cabinet.
The back wall of the stage has a cement block wall with an angled opening, revealing a set of stairs with metal railings used as scenes change.
A square wooden bar with a brass foot rail at the base is wheeled in at various times throughout the play, as required. It is open at the back allowing actors to move behind the bar. There are beer mats and optics on the counter and two high backed bar stools on each end. On the back wall is a copy of Andy Warhol’s pop art portrait of Queen Elizabeth 2nd, which consists of four copy images of her head and shoulders in lurid colours.
Suspended above the stage is an impressive light installation consisting of 25 bright spot lights in a square metal frame. It provides much of the stage lighting. Most of the furniture props are on wheels enabling quick changes to take place. Circles of red and blue disco lights and pop music herald each change of scenery.
Other scenery changes include a Perspex bus stop with a seat, and the words “Adshel” on the windows, a black litter bin is outside it.
A changing room reached by stairs, containing a low wooden bench, and a battered graffiti-sprayed locker of nine compartments.
A corridor outside the changing room with a water dispenser.
A neat ladies changing room with green painted lockers and a bench to match. It has a flip board for notes.
A park with trees and a park bench.
An indoor football pitch inside a leisure centre with a goal net manned by a goalie.
Towards the end of the play, the stage will again be divided into separate sections where we can observe the action taking place in the office independently of those in the ladies changing room. The stage will divide one last time to show a park bench at dusk, while on the left Elvis and his backing singer perform against a backdrop of a spiky red sun and swirls that change colour as they spin.
CHARACTER AND COSTUME DESCRIPTION FOR "SMILEY"
There are eight characters in the play : three female, and five male.
Smiley is the title character of the play. He is middle-aged, small and slim with a toned physique. He has short dark brown hair worn off the face, and is slightly balding at the back of his head. He is unshaven with a light beard and moustache. He has deep set eyes and dark heavy eyebrows.
He wears a v-necked t-shirt under a light sports jacket, jeans and casual shoes.
Tommy ( Smiley's son)is in his late teens, and is small and slight with long brown hair. He has dark thick eyebrows and an oval face. He wears a knitted hat under which we see his long hair, a loose fitting shirt worn open over a t-shirt, baggy jeans and boots.
Elaine is Tommys ex-wife. She is very slim with long brown wavy hair, worn off her face. She has high cheek-bones and pouty lips. She wears a jacket over a low-cut v-neck top, a figure-hugging knee-length pencil skirt, lacy tights, and high-heeled ankle boots. She carries a handbag slung over her shoulder.
Tara is the night club owner. She has short cropped hair with no fringe, wide-set eyes, a broad forehead and thin mouth. She is middle-aged with a sturdy build. She wears a mannish dark grey suit with cropped trousers and very high-heeled black shoes. The suit has sparkly decorations on the shoulders and front. Under the jacket is a white v-necked blouse.
Malcolm is her assistant. He is in his fifties and sturdily built. He wears a black knitted hat so that we can't see his hair and is unshaven. He wears a black bomber jacket zipped up and black tracksuit bottoms. On his hands are black fingerless gloves
Aaron is a singer and Elvis impersonator in the club. He is small and plump. When performing he wears a white tight-fitting satin suit with a high collar at the back. The suit has fringing which dangles from the sleeves. He has a matching white satin scarf with red fringing and a sparkly red waistband. He wears high-heeled ankle boots.
When he is not performing her wears jeans and a casual jacket.
