Costumes as an aspect of theatrical play - Essay Example

Costumes as an aspect of theatrical play The idea that costumes as an aspect of theatrical play are very important in the theater is rather interesting. This issue is increasingly important in this age of great variety of different costumes and materials they are made of. In this paper, I will argue that costumes as an aspect of theatrical performance play a very important role in different kinds of plays for both actors and spectators. Theatrical productions typically use elements of fashion and style from the time period in which the play is set.

Costumes play one of the most important roles in historical period features reflection. A costume is the integral part of any play, especially that of historical character. "The costumes and sets of Shakespeare's time influenced the production of the plays. The costumes aided in the visual affects of the plays as did the lighting and the sound effects" (1). Fashion history of many countries is rich in different attire and costumes. So, a costumer must use all the features of a costume to show colours of a particular historical epoch.

"We even distinguish between plays that are dressed in the clothing of people of another times or places. We consider these to be "costume plays" (1). A director of the play must show all the variety of costumes features concerning particular play and time the action takes place, especially if it can help to underline the plot and the color of the time. For example, if the action takes place in Elizabethan time, a director must take into account, that "Any part of the costume was likely to be decorated with braid, embroidery, pinking (pricking in patterns) slashing, or puffing, or it might be encrusted with pearls, jewels, or spangles or trimmed with lace or artificial flowers.

Men's clothing, like that of women, was gorgeous with color and ornamentation" (1). These details and features help spectators to plunge into the plot and feel the taste of the epoch. Artists share this opinion: "MOST scenic artists acquainted with the "joy of work," are found expressing a preference for "costume" plays, be-cause these afford opportunity for an unusual amount of color; and color here takes precedence over line. Costume thus, in stage parlance, has come to imply color" (2). In addition to that, the character of a costume underlines individual features of an actor and helps to open his (her) talent fuller and better.

"The best looking, the newest, the most fashionable gowns are offered at dress rehearsal for praise. It is difficult to make some histrionic aspirants realize that the best acting may be done in drab, unattractive garments" (3). Costumes also underline the character and genre of the play as actors' attire and garments and their specialities are necessary elements of the play and its perception by spectators. "For humor the underlying principles of costume design should be contrast, incongruity, exaggeration, increasing in degree directly as the material of the play recedes from realism and contemporaneousness" (3).

A costume can also determine a type of character's role. The tone of a garment can give good emotional imagination about the character. "Psychological costumes in all likelihood were known be-fore psychological scenery, probably because they were familiar in real life. The red gown for the "dangerous" woman and the black to signify almost any kind of distress from widowhood to poverty are probably as old as Job's comforter-forgive me that pun" (2). The use of costumes in modern and historical plays can be different.

"In modern plays the characters themselves may help more or less in providing their own costumes. In fanciful, historical, romantic, plays there should be one directing and designing head to produce harmony, balance, gracefulness, and beauty" (3). This paper argued an importance of costumes as an aspect of theatrical play. One can say that its importance in coming plays will grow. Theater as an art is developing, and there are different approaches on costumes. Finally, technology and art development and their influence on the theater will result in appearing more variable costumes, garments and attire in the near future.

References1. Costumes and Sets in Shakespeare's Theater(http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/springfield/eliz/costumes.html)2. Play Production. Costumes. (http://www.oldandsold.com/articles23/play-production- 24.shtml)3. Theater Groups. Costumes and Make-Up. (http://www.oldandsold.com/articles24/plays-31.shtml)