Discoveries and Breakthroughs

 So. I've figured out a LOT this week.

First off, in talking with my faculty collaborator, I've figured out that the play fits a more Brechtian style, a more presentational, episodic, epic style as opposed to a more Aristotelian structure. This means I can take advantage of certain aspects of the side show much more and capture a more... vaudevillian feel. That means more music, more dancing, more awesome. Woo!

This immediately opened up some new ideas for me.
For example, around this time, film was just starting to gain grounds in the field of entertainment, but not as we know it now. It was more of a side show act in itself, in the form of Nickelodeons. Yes, we all immediately associate that word with Spongebob and Hey Arnold, but back then, it meant a side show display where one (along with a few other people) could watch a short silent film. More often than not, there would be a musician or singer who would accompany the film, which was more a series of pictures than a film, and the film would illustrate the song.
What's interesting is that many opponents of the circus and the side show felt that film would overtake them as forms of entertainment, and they were right. We only started having fully fledged movie theaters because the nickelodeons couldn't hold the large audiences.

ANYWAY. I'll be utilizing the nickelodeon in the play. In one scene in particular (Lola being sold into the circus as a child), a singer will come forward and sing, while in the background, behind a screen, a shadow "play" will take place.

A nickelodeon in Toronto. See? It cost a nickel, thus, NICKEL-odeon.

Another idea that's come forward is the use of BURLESQUE (more as we know it today, back then burlesque basically meant any type of show, usually comedy). I feel like it walks hand in hand with the side show, as it reveals and hides the taboo.

And yet another idea is the change in fashions around this time and how I can use them to show the ever changing expectations placed upon women. Lola is trying to be the ideal woman, a "normal" woman, and as such she's taking cues from the women around her. What I want to do is use the side show as a way of showing the ridiculousness of women's fashion. The scene would be set up like a side show, but instead of freaks, it would be women in different fashions of the time (hobble skirts, Gibson girl, etc. preferably exaggerated). Unlike the freak show, where the normal people look at the freaks, in this case the women on display are the norm and if you don't look like them, you're the freak, even though you're in the majority. I feel like this is how fashion works a lot of the time. There are only one or two women who fit the ideal PERFECTLY (and only with the aide of corsets, photoshop, etc) but we're all expected to be them. Lola is even more confused because she's not even one of the normal women, she's even further removed - striving to be normal AND perfect, when even that idea is constantly changing.

Two topical articles  from the time: "The Hobble" Is The Latest Freak In Woman's Fashions (Love the use of the word "freak") Queen Mary's War On Hobble Skirts Hard To Win(the Queen actually attempted to ban the skirt because women couldn't curtsy in it)

 

The caption on this reads: "The Hobble Skirt. What's that? It's the Speed-Limit Skirt!"

Some classic "Gibson Girl" illustrations

The corsets caused an "S" shaped figure, and a kind of pigeon chest. People were seriously screwing themselves up...

However, one of the biggest leaps forward for me has been the realization that there are four Lolas throughout the course of the play:

1. Lola as a prop in the sideshow
2. Lola lying to be a "normal" woman
3. Lola lying to be a "normal" man
4. LOLA.

I haven't decided if she'll GET to number four or not, but it's an incredibly interesting prospect.

Other than that, I've come up with a preliminary plot structure, including all of these breakthroughs. I haven't figured out the ending yet, but that'll come with time.

Again, please share your thoughts, comments and questions. I'd love to hear what you think!