Amadeus: use of performance space

Amadeus: use of performance space

Use of Stage

• In Amadeus, the stage represents multiple settings such as theatres, Salieri’s home, the royal court, and the public streets.
• This fluid use of space creates a dreamlike and surreal atmosphere.
• The stage is often split into separate ‘worlds’ contributing to the duality of the text – the public and private domain.

Suggestive, not Literal Display

• Staging is suggestive rather than literal, allowing for interpretation and multiple layers of meaning in a scene.
• This modest design emphasis on function rather than spectacle also reflects the contrasting personalities of Salieri and Mozart.

Movement and Positioning

• Movement and positioning contribute to the portrayal of character relationships, hierarchy and power dynamics.
• For example, Salieri often positioned above or visibly separated from Mozart to exhibit his perceived superiority.
• Frequent movement and changes in positioning help maintain visual interest, ensuring the audience’s attention is constantly engaged.

Connection with the Audience

• The use of direct address and soliloquies to the audience involves them on a more personal level.
• The audience’s involvement becomes complicit in Salieri’s actions against Mozart, increasing the dramatic tension.

Lighting and Sound

• Lighting and sound play a crucial role in distinguishing between settings and time periods.
• Shadowy lighting and somber music are fittingly used in Salieri’s reflective monologues.
• Light changes, music, and sound effects effectively mark the shifts between scenes, reinforcing the play’s flowing, operatic nature.

Props and Set Pieces

• The use of minimal and practical props and set pieces allows for smooth transitions and keeps the focus on the actors.
• The few selected props that are used - sheets of music, candy, a crucifix etc., become significant symbols, each carrying specific connotations that contribute to the play’s thematic depth.