True Broadway Piece

This is the first time I watched a show in Broadway. Personally, I think it deserved Broadway’s reputation. Only talking about the stage is already very impressive. The stage was a adventurous, but successful design, however, I think it can only be shown by Broadway crew. 

Actually, before I watched the play, I already knew how the stage was set up, so I was not surprised, but I was still impressed by their design. Firstly, the design of the stage was actually smart and beautiful. They created several different scenes by simply using projectors and letting actors move props. For example, when Christopher was asking neighbors about the dead dog, the crew did not build real houses, instead, they projected the house numbers on the floor. At first, it was a little bit confusing for me. I did not get why the actors were dancing. Then I realized they were just quickly staging different houses. Also, there was always a dog on the center of the stage, it represented the dead dog. This was a smart design. The actors always had double roles, so they did not have to use many actors. However, I think this would not work for any theaters. Firstly, to show the best effect, the theater must use best projectors. Also, they have to change the floor and walls to the materials which can get better projected. I wonder normal theaters can’t afford these things. Secondly, in the neighborhood scene, the only props were the trains and the white suitcases. Therefore, to show the story, it can only rely on actors’ acting. The actors must be professional and talented. Though, the neighbors were small characters, everyone had his/her unique personality. For instance, one neighbor was partying, and he was actually drunk, when Christopher was trying to ask his questions. It was so difficult for a group of people act like partying without any props. Broadway had the best actors in the world, so they could achieve it. I am not sure if other small theaters can still do this. Consequently, the stage design was truly a master piece, but I think this design also had a big limitation—it can only work for Broadway crew. 

In conclusion, the staging design was unique and daring. I’m sure everyone who watched this play would be impressed. However, in my opinion, its uniqueness also created some limitation to this play. Honestly, I think this design can only be presented by Broadway.