Scenic Images: the Clash between Light and Darkness

Recently, I acted in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. In it, the director made the choice for the fairy world to be a clash of light and darkness, fairies versus shadows, to further enhance the conflict between the characters Oberon and Titania. The set was had two levels. At stage level, everything was normal, with three mossy arches across the stage. On the second level however, the set was split into two distinct regions. On stage right, the shade was a dark purple with a black brambly pattern and mirror shards pasted to it, giving it a sinister look of the shadow realm. This contrasted with the fairy side on which flowers hung and the shade was a gentle green. Further enhnacing this image was the blocking for the actors. No fairy could cross to stage right until Oberon and Titania had reconciled and vice versa (with the exception of Oberon, who breaks this boundary deliberatley when he tries to fix Puck's mistake. Finally, the costumes added to the effect as well. The shadows (Puck and Oberon), were dressed in dark trench coats and sunglasses that resembled something out of the Matrix. The Fairies on the other hand were dressed in more colorful and flowery outfits.