Seu's Trifles response

I think it would be difficult to do this production with minimal settings, props and dress because it would take away from the feeling of the “farm-house” look.  Since there is no “dishes in the sink” and “broken jelly jar” for the County Attorney to find, it would be hard to convey that idea.  The kitchen and the house that are supposed to be in disarray would be difficult to convey with only minimal set dressing.  When Mrs. Hale shows the unfinished quilt and says, “It’s a log cabin pattern,” it would be difficult for the audience to picture that if they had never seen a “log pattern” on a quilt.  With the set being devoid of color would take away from the idea that there was a murder.

On the other hand, if this was done as stripped down production, it may work if the actors exaggerated their lines to convey a “country” accents, this might help the audience envision a farm-house setting.  They may even play is as though it happened in the future with less set dressing.  The actors would have to use their body language and facial movements to show the emotion.  For example, when Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters are looking at the bird, they would have to exaggerate their fear of what the bird really represents.  Did Mrs. Wright really kill her husband over the dead bird?  Their shock and fear would have to be portrayed by their body and facial reactions.  I think it could work if they added one color, namely the color red; it would bring home the idea that this is a murder case.  Maybe the bird could be red which could possibly lead the audience to possible answer of what happened.   It would still be a striped – down set but, would become very powerful.