We a new show, comes a fresh start. However we couldn’t just throw away everything we’d already done. The opening scene was originally set in an office during the 1950’s and was a physical theatre scene, this first start was our inspiration for our silent film opening. In the original scene, a tyrant of a boss made sure his office worked like clockwork, a lightbulb was broken and a handyman came in to fix it. There he fell in love with the assistant and we’d rush through their life as a couple.

 

Set in an office in the 1920’s ‘The Boss’ falls in love with his assistant, same as before the light is broken and a handy man comes to fox it. The assistant finds him attractive and is whisked away. We took inspiration from Mack Sennett’s ‘Barney Oldfield’s Race for A Life’ the classic well known silent film where the ‘Damsel in Distress’ is tied to a set of train tracks. We also looked at Charlie Chaplin’s films and took inspiration of the slapstick comedy and the physical attributes these characters encompasses.  This delusion ends with the Handyman turning out to be a villain and placing The Assistant on a set of ladders, that make a train track. This delusion brings the story back into reality, into the office.

Here is such an important moment, it sets the tone for how every other delusion will end. This one snaps back into reality with bright white lights meant to be the lights of the train and a projection of a train headed towards the audience. The projection then turns into spreadsheets, printers and phones can be heard and they are transported back into the everyday office.

The reality then is effected by the delusion itself or in a sense mirrors it. Within the real state office Michael (The Boss) is in love with Beth (The Assistant) who is aided by Tom (The Handyman) and seems to enjoy his affections.

Change Before Going Productions (2012) Barney Oldfield’s Race for a Life

. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdn2UYaeSV8 [accessed 12 April 2017].

James Evans (2016) Charlie Chaplin: The Adventurer

. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf25OYtBhFM [accessed 12 April 2017].