Amadeus: Costume design (including hair and make-up)
Amadeus: Costume design (including hair and make-up)
Costume Design, Hair, and Makeup in “Amadeus”
Representation of Historical Period
- The costume design, hair and makeup can depict 18th century Vienna effectively.
- Upper-class attire, like Mozart’s flamboyant, colourful clothing and powdered wigs, reflects his status and eccentricity.
- Salieri’s more sombre, restrained attire reflects his controlled, calculated character.
Differentiating Characters
- Costume design also differentiates between characters, reflecting their personalities, role in society and state of mind.
- Mozart’s disciple, Schikaneder, is often costumed more like an entertainer, emphasising his role in popular theatre.
Representing Character Progression
- Changes in costume, hair, and makeup can articulate Mozart’s physical and mental decline. His clothes often become more dishevelled and less flamboyant over time, tracking his downfall.
- Costume can also help express the character’s emotion and communicate the changing dynamics in relationships.
Symbolic Use of Colour and Fabric
- Colour schemes used within costumes can have thematic implications.
- The use of darker colours in Salieri’s attire can symbolise his jealousy and malice, whilst the bright colours in Mozart’s costume reflect his exuberance and genius.
Functionality
- Costumes need to be functional, allowing actors to move in specific ways required by their role.
- The extravagant wigs and high powder associated with 18th-century fashion may need to be adapted for practical purposes on stage.
Historical Authenticity vs. Theatrical Effect
- There may be a need to balance the historical accuracy of costumes, hair and makeup with the requirements of producing a visually engaging stage production.
- Some details may be exaggerated or minimised to enhance certain characteristics or to provide visual clues about the character for the audience.