PMD1/2 Exploring Stimuli: Masquerade

The definition of masquerade is a "false show or pretence" or "to pretend to be someone one is not". Using this idea we could explore the idea of façade and identity, potentially commenting on societal expectations and pressures present in even today's society. With regards to how we could shape such a concept into a performance, we considered using Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death" and Mikhail Lermontov's 1835 play "Masquerade" to form the basis of our storyline. For an ensemble such as ourselves, this could prove to be a good starting point for it presents opportunities for both areas of speciality to be incorporated; dance and drama. Given conventional ideas assigned to the concept of a masquerade ball provide opportunities for choreography, whether it be as a stand alone piece or setting the scene for monologues and dialogues. The two stories we have selected to consider within this stimulus are abundantly loaded with metaphors and devices which could be used to create physical theatre movement that will appeal to both specialities.  Were we to go down the route of using the story of the Masque of the Red Death, it is likely our performance may take a rondo structure or one of theme and variation, given the idea of the colours in the rooms and a different story perhaps in each. 

Above: Information about both stories from our initial research into them.

Following gaining a general understanding of both stories, I then took a copy of The Mask of the Red Death and annotated it myself with performance possibilities relating to the story. These ideas are mostly based on the ideas presented in the text, however further exploration at a later date could involve looking at more divergent ideas for performances based on select words, phrases and themes.
We have decided to incorporate this story in our work.