The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui

The visual, aural and spacial elements are three very key factors with the final performance product. The Visual elements include; Make-up: To emphasise facial feature and prevent lighting making the face shine. Masks; these are effective to help provide a unique character identification or to categorise a number of characters into one group using identical masks. This technique is visually appealing and holds the audience’s attention well. Costume; is visually significant as it creates each characters individuality and portrays a set time period. It allows the audience to identify aspects of that particular character’s personality and can very often add serious or comical value. Props; provide a wider picture of the situation and help the actors get into role.

They also provide the audience with character information, for example within scene two Dogsborough and son are in the kitchen cleaning glasses, this shows their therefore working class as is they were middle class they would have servants to do that for them. Therefore social position and status is achieved. The Scenery and Set; within a play conveys the visual idea of the time, place and surroundings, and can contain semiotics to symbolise and interpret certain things in theatre. The final visual element key to this play is physical performance style. It makes the play a reflection of what the playwright wants to achieve through movement, posture, and positions etc.

The Aural elements include music to create atmosphere, tension and emotion and emphasise significant moments and create irony. (For example within scene 7 the song is being sung through the warehouse fire. This plays with the audience’s emotions and projects a contrast on stage which can make the audience feel tense and uncomfortable but also will remain in their minds after it’s over.)

The use of voice: There are a number of different vocal qualities that can be extremely effective within a play through experimenting with the pitch, tempo and accent. You could add different emotions and feelings to the scene through your voice to gain the audience’s sympathy or want them to ask questions or get angry at the way your character has acted. Non verbal noises; are another aural quality. Rather than drawing attention to someone speaking this draws attention to the actions their making.

The Spacial elements are the combined effect of sound and space and cover the way in which the characters use the stage space. This includes blocking, assessing where they are on stage (downstage right, centre stage etc.) and considering the relationship between characters or objects on stage and portrays social positions.

Scene one:

Aural; The first significant aural element within the play is the sarcastic laughter from the business men mocking UI. This gives the audience an impression that they don’t think much of him, which portrays a very negative unpopular immediate impression although we haven’t properly met him. Visual; at the end of the scene a sign appears ‘ recalling certain incidents in the past’ This happens continually throughout the play and is effective as the audience become clear that they know what has previously happened and don’t feel there are any key moments they have missed. Spacial; an example within scene 1b is the grouping and movement on stage as the three men ‘Ui, Roma and a bodyguard ‘Saunter past.’

This portrays a strong sense of grouping and gives Ui that sense of power and higher status being surrounded by people. This is a good use of space showing the audience Ui’s mobility and freedom to walk through. The way the other characters react to his presence on stage is very important as the audience are ale to pick up on negative feelings portrayed by body language and posture also displayed visually with facial expression and gestures. Tension is created amongst the two groupings and visually this is the first introduction of Ui to the audience.

Scene two:

Scene two begins with a visual and spacial element combined. Dogsborough is washing glasses in his restaurant with his son. Through this we can understand the strength of him and his son’s relationship as they are doing a servant job together. We can also understand their working class family background and although Dogsborough has little wealth he is well respected and that doesn’t mean his position in society is low considered he’s spoken of highly in the opening of the play. Aural; Butcher puts extra emphasis on the word ‘this’ and this changes his pitch and tone and is effective to get a point across.

Scene three:

Aural; racing news on the radio creates the atmosphere on stage. We can learn from this that their gamblers and this possibly suggests their personalities to be very determined and self-indulgent. Visual: Whisking through the newspaper. Here the use of a prop is used within a scene. Ui is desperate to find something about himself which again reveals elements of his characters personality portraying to the audience this desire to please himself, a self-centred ego centred nature that craves public attention. Spacial; The room empties as the bodyguard acts on Ui’s demands to shut Ragg up. The speed to leave portrays fear to audience.

Scene four:

Visual; Dogsborough ‘stands up grandly’ however feeling very weak. He does this to make the statement strong and when approached by Ui show’s confidence and the feeling that he isn’t intimidated by the gangster like the others. Aural; Semiotics-church bells heard in the distance. This representing religion but also making the audience aware it is a Sunday the supposed day of rest therefore Dogsborough is angry that Ui has troubled him on this day. Spacial; The grouping on stage with Ui, Roma, Butcher, Dogsborough and Dogsborough’s son- The relationship between them is tense and this creates a suffocating presence on stage with the tension mounting and giving this uncomfortable cluttered spacial image.

Scene five;

Aural; ‘In an undertone’ this emphasises emotion and feeling of what he’s said.

Visual; Policemen carry out bowl’s body in a corpse. This contrasts with the shooting and allows the audience to witness the outcome from the devastation and violent acts Ui is involved with.

Scene six:

Aural; (non verbal) as a burst of shot’s are fired the reporters run out conveying eagerness to witness the experience, This heightens tension and suspense for the audience as the sound of shot fires are greatly impacting.

Visual: Bodyguard comes to the front of the stage with a mirror. Ui is desperate to establish the image of himself to become more successful. This shows the audience Ui possesses insecurity.

Spacial: His positioning on the stage is very spread out showing his dominating nature. His arms are crossed over his chest and as he walks he portrays the idea to the audience he is growing in control.

Scene nine:

Visual: ‘A woman climbs out of a shot up truck and staggers forward.’ This displays a huge spectrum of feelings to the audience such as fear, desperation, anger and is visually effective as the audience could possibly begin to relate to her as she’s just a normal character caught up in the middle of the shooting who has lost her husband.

Aural: The machine gun fire- portraying the brutality and the realisation of the killings. Spacial: The woman collapses. This portrays minimal lack of space due to lack of strength. This gains sympathy within the audience and raises questions.

Scene Ten:

Spacial: Ui slumped in chair. This portrays his mood as Givola forges Dogsborough’s will. Through not possessing any significant posture he isn’t living up to his usual controlling high status therefore this raises questions. Is guilt on his mind?

Visual: Givola is writing the will this is effective, as it is a complete contrast of the scene before revealing to the audience their conniving nature.

Scene eleven:

Aural: Sound of rain. This dampens the mood and creates tension and suspense on stage as it portrays their nervous emotions and suggests to the audience that maybe things aren’t going to go ahead as planned.

Visual: Inna’s trembling hand shows immense fear. Another element of this scene is the men lined up and then mowed down by gunfire. This is visually shocking and captures Ui and the gang’s sick contentment by murdering. This is a harsh contrast of emotions and a clear reflection of the key aspects with selfish and violent acts that take place throughout the play and leaving the audience in disbelief.