Mobile Notes and blog post February 2/15/2022

 Transitions into verbatim monologues utilize household objects. 

Hard to differentiate between script and verbatim.

Lots of monologues

Interesting use of movement, less interpretive but it is still there.

The main character tells a story, relates it to some larger concept, listens to an interview. Repeat.

Windows are screens.

Repeated ideas/themes: escape. rising, changing, opportunity, childhood, between two worlds.

Immersed audience. 


It is apparent during the Mobile theater production that The Paper Birds wished to let the story speak for itself, and did little hand holding. The show was very focused on introspection, utilizing verbatim theater tactics and the actor's monologues to reveal themes of class mobility (or lack thereof) and how the struggles of a modern-day capitalist society affects our minds. Due to The Paper Birds' interest in education through their shows as opposed to drawing out a catharsis, much of the show's verbatim theater felt very disconnected in order to grab the attention of the audience. This is figuratively symbolized through the use of household objects to act as the source of the recordings, as opposed to a video or actor. There were clear influences from Frantic Assembly through their movement work and monologues, but it was very unique in other ways. The immersive set also aids The Paper Birds, as the audience gains a more intimate and close-up look at the show, the actor, and figuratively as well as literally its themes. The set design reflects the themes of the show expertly, from the screens in the windows to the various props, much of the set adds to the story, and without the audience right there in the trailer to see these details, much of the show's impact would be lost. 




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