The Visit: stage directions

Understanding Stage Directions

Stage directions in Friedrich Durrenmatt’s “The Visit” are crucial in enhancing the author’s vision and adding layers of meaning to the text.
Stage directions provide essential information about the location and context of scenes, emotions and behaviours of the characters, the use of props, and dramatic devices such as light, sound, costuming, and blocking.

Setting and Atmosphere

The physical description of Güllen, given as a series of stage directions, communicates an initial sense of decay, poverty, and desperation, setting the tone for the play’s exploration of moral corruption and downfall.
The stage direction of Claire’s arrival on the train describes her grand entrance with extensive detail, noting the stunning spectacle her arrival creates. This stage direction underlines Claire’s power and wealth, contrasting sharply with the impoverishment of Güllen.

Characterisation and Movement

Stage directions relating to the movements and gestures of the characters provide insight into their personalities, emotions, relationships, and transformations. For example, Alfred Ill’s increasing anxiety and paranoia are communicated through stage directions detailing his nervous movements and restlessness.
Pay particular attention to stage directions when characters are not speaking, as these moments often reveal deeper insights into their thoughts, feelings, and motivations.

Use of Props and Costumes

Durrenmatt’s stage directions provide detailed descriptions of props and costumes, which contribute significantly to the development of themes and characterization. Consider, for instance, the significance of Claire’s extravagant attire or her casket-like wooden leg and ivory hand.
Props such as Ill’s yellow shoes, the wedding gown and coffin all have symbolic implications, adding allegorical depth to the narrative.

Light and Sound Effects

The author uses stage directions to suggest particular light and sound effects. These directions contribute to the creation of mood, pace, and narrative progression. An example is the use of lights to indicate the passing of time or to highlight important dramatic moments.
Musical cues are often specified in stage directions. The harsh, strident music associated with Claire, for instance, underlines her predatory and vengeful nature.

Remember to not only interpret the stage directions for their surface meaning but also analyse deeper implications and consider how they can be used performance.