The 39 Steps Play Guide For AQA GCSE Drama

COMPONENT 1 UNDERSTANDING DRAMA 42 Task B18 Look at these four student-style answers and identify: • Where in The 39 Steps the lighting idea might be effective • How it demonstrates the context of the play. An example has been given to start you off. I will use a low fog machine to create a swirling mist around Hannay’s ankles as he tries to escape. Fresnel lanterns placed low on a lighting rig in the wings will shine through this mist. A high-angle profile lantern will project a low-intensity pearly white light to suggest moonlight on a stage which is otherwise very dark. The two Policemen will use torches to search for Hannay. The colour palette of dark greens will reinforce the sense that they are outside at night. I will use three different followspots for this scene. One will capture Mr Memory on stage; another will be on Hannay and Pamela in their seats; and the third will pick out Professor Jordan in his box. All will be high intensity, with different-coloured filters: a rosy one on Mr Memory; blue for Hannay and Pamela; and an unpleasant green on the Professor. In addition, footlights along the downstage edge will throw ominous shadows onto Mr Memory’s face. Scene 1: Context: In an urban location such as London in the 1930s, there would be a variety of outside lights, including street lamps and signs. London fog was famous during this period and adds to the sense of danger and mystery. To capture the atmosphere of 1930s London, I would use lighting upstage of Hannay’s window. A yellow gel in a profile lantern would create the glow of a street light, angled diagonally into the window. To recreate a fog and to add mystery, I would connect a tiny fogger to the lighting rig so that the street lighting is misty. I would also place, upstage, a flashing blue neon sign advertising a Portland Place hotel. I will use a backlight behind a shadow puppet of a small plane. This will be positioned high upstage. A strobe will reinforce the gunfire. Before the plane crashes, I will use a gobo to project onto the stage floor the effect of rapidly spinning swirls, to suggest the plane is out of control. This will be followed by a bright, high-intensity flash to signify the crash. KEY TERMS Fogger: A device that produces a smoke that gives the effect of fog or mist. Colour palette: The range of colours used. For example, a scene might use light colours, dark colours, muted tones, grey tones, earth tones or vivid, primary colours. Strobe: A lighting device that produces short bursts of light. Gobo: A metal cut-out used to project patterns, such as leaves, stars, swirls or waves.