A Day in the Death of Joe Egg: creation of mood and atmosphere

A Day in the Death of Joe Egg: creation of mood and atmosphere

Creation of Mood and Atmosphere

Setting and Stage

  • The setting of the play, the family’s living room, intimately portrays the confinement and the strain experienced by the family.
  • The play’s duration occurs in real-time, creating a painful and exhausting environment for both the audience and character, reflecting the reality of caring for a severely ill person.
  • The props such as Joe’s wheelchair, add to the sombreness and hardness of the daily struggle in the family’s life.

Bri’s Comedic Sequences

  • These sequences, while humorous, highlight Bri’s use of comedy as a defence mechanism, creating an atmosphere of underlying despair.
  • The humour does not dial down the seriousness of the situation but rather adds an ironic undertone to the weightiness of the subject.

Lighting and Sound

  • Changes in lighting and sound mirror shifts in mood - from normal domesticity to tense discussions about Joe’s health and future.
  • The use of songs and sound effects underscores the gravity of Joe’s condition and the toll it takes on the family.

Dramatic Irony

  • The audience’s awareness of the true severity of Joe’s condition and the parents’ denial creates an agonizing atmosphere of dramatic irony.
  • This dramatic irony intensifies feelings of sympathy in the audience towards the characters and their plight.

Dialogue and Monologues

  • The dialogue between characters can be light-hearted and casual, creating a semblance of normalcy, but also becomes intense and serious, creating a tense atmosphere when discussing Joe.
  • Monologues offer insight into a character’s true feelings and perspectives, often representing a stark contrast to the seemingly normal conversation. This contrast creates a high level of tension and emotional suspension.

The Role of Secondary Characters

  • The presence of secondary characters, like Freddie and Pam, bring a change in the atmosphere, introducing new dynamics and adding to the tension.
  • Their naive perspectives on Joe’s condition create an atmosphere of frustration and misunderstanding, amplifying the isolation felt by Bri and Sheila.