Understanding Plastic Theatre in "A Streetcar Named Desire
Plastic Theatre is a form of non-realist, metaphorical theatre that uses props, sounds, and stage directions to convey characters' states of mind. In "A Streetcar Named Desire," Tennessee Williams incorporates significant elements of Plastic Theatre, such as the Varsouviana Polka, to represent the inner lives and emotions of the characters, particularly Blanche's experiences and memories. This expressive and symbolic genre allows for the exploration of poetic truths and psychological depths within the theatrical setting.
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What is Plastic Theatre? Plastic Theatre, is the use of props, noises and/or stage directions to convey a parallel with the characters states of mind on stage. Thus, the state of Blanche s mind, emotions, and memories converted into the stage setting. Plastic Theatre is hence symbolic, non-realist, metaphorical theatre that uses objects, musical underscoring, costumes, props and theatrical space to create an experience for the audience that suggests poetic truths. This was one of the earliest and most famous plays which represented the Plastic Theatre genre.
This genre of theatre might be described as Expressionistic. Rather than attempting to create a vision of reality , Williams created a highly personalised vision of the world that included distorted images symbolising inner psychological states (shadows on the wall, gunshot). He was expressing the inner life of the main character.
Williams on Plastic Theatre Everyone should know nowadays the unimportance of the photographic in art: that truth, life, or reality is an organic thing which the poetic imagination can represent or suggest, in essence, only through transformation, through changing into other forms than those which were merely present in appearance. ... a conception of new, plastic theatre which must take the place of the exhausted theatre of realistic conventions
Significant Elements of Plastic Theatre in A Streetcar Named Desire:
1. The Varsouviana Polka This is the polka tune which often reminds Blanche of the last day she spent with her young husband Allen Grey. In the middle of the Varsouviana Blanche told Allen of how he disgusted her. Later he committed suicide.
The polka music often arouses a sense of loss and regret for Blanche. The music is first heard distantly in Scene 1 (Pg 15), when Stanley questions Blanche about her husband. This reappears with the polka shifting to a minor key when Blanche tells Mitch of the suicide of her husband (throughout Scene 6).
This is increasingly heard later, as Blanche loses mental control. As the music plays when Stanley gives Blanche the Greyhound ticket to return home in Scene 8, Williams depicts how the music foreshadows the imminent disaster for her. When Blanche is discovered alone in Scene 9, the polka is rapid. The polka draws upon the mental deterioration of Blanche, which was evoked by the suicide of her husband. Williams thus uses the music to bring about Blanche s loss of the grip of truth and reality.
2. Blue piano The blues music enhances the dreamlike feeling in the play. The Blue piano represents the spirit of life (Pg 3) in the setting. This is prominent in the first scene when Blanche recalls the unfortunate fate of Belle Reve, and in the 5th scene when she kisses the Young Man. The blue piano is the loudest when Blanche is sent away to the asylum in the last scene. The blue piano shows the cyclical structure of the play, as the play starts and ends with the same background music. This shows possibly that Blanche, just like in the beginning of the play, is alone and continues her unsettled journey of life. The Blue piano not only gives the readers a sense of setting, but also shows Blanche s need for companionship.
3. Locomotives Stanley is associated with the power sounds of locomotives- modern, impressive, and raw. In Scene 4 (Pg 40), when he secretly overheard the conversation of the sisters , there is a sound of the approaching train. When Blanche tells Mitch of her marriage, she is harrowed by the memory of an oncoming locomotive (Pg 56). The start of the last phase of the movement towards the rape in Scene 10, the locomotive sound grows louder. The locomotives represent Stanley, who brings Blanche s downfall by unmasking her truth. Hence, in every scene where the truth of Blanche is revealed through Stanley, the locomotive sound is dominant. It sound may also be seen as a symbol of Blanche s desire to escape.
4. Its only paper moon! This song is prominent in the 7th scene, when Stanley learns of Blanche s promiscuity. The louder Stanley insists on the undeniable facts about Blanche, the louder she sings. The song s lyrics describe the way love turns the world into a phony fantasy. The song says that if both lovers believe in their imagined reality, then it s no longer make-believe. These lyrics sum up Blanche s approach to life. She believes that her lying is harmless, as she tries to weave harmony with her lies. However, Blanche is just a sham who pretends sexual innocence.
5. Shadows Light represents truth, which Stella wishes to avoid by putting an artificial lantern on the light bulb. Stella is never in daylight, as she doesn t wish her lies to be revealed. When Blanche and Stanley fight in Scene 10, oddly shaped shadows appear on the walls. The jungle cries enhance the sense of madness of Blanche. These effects combine to heighten Blanche s final breakdown.
Other elements of the Plastic Theatre in A Streetcar Named Desire : 6. Meat 7. Piano and clarinets
Make notes on the following examples of Plastic Theatre in Street Car: Include, page no.s, quotation, notes on the effect of the device and context within the play etc. Blue Piano Varsouviana Locomotive Noises (Other sound effects) Props Any other example you can find?
