THE DESIGNERS

Chapter 6

PART ONE:THE FALSE PROSCENIUM

and the4th WALL REMOVED

The Proscenium ArchThe Proscenium Arch

Developed during the Italian Renaissance, Developed during the Italian Renaissance, the Proscenium Theater is perhaps the most the Proscenium Theater is perhaps the most familiar of the architectural theater types. familiar of the architectural theater types. A large arch “frames” the stage. The A large arch “frames” the stage. The audience sits in front of the arch, and most audience sits in front of the arch, and most of the action takes place behind it. There is of the action takes place behind it. There is usually a large curtain (the grand drape) usually a large curtain (the grand drape) which rises at the beginning of the which rises at the beginning of the performance and falls at the conclusion.performance and falls at the conclusion.

The False Proscenium

As the proscenium arch became popular, designers began to “decorate” it. Actually, they created a “second” or “false” proscenium which stood just behind the original one. This false proscenium served to narrow the proscenium opening and to ornamentally support the overall stage design. Notice the different design styles of these “false” prosceniums.

False proscenium for Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock HolmesNotice how the false proscenium unifies the various locations

False proscenium for Scarlet Pimpernel

Scarlet Pimpernel

Scarlet Pimpernel

Scarlet Pimpernel

Scenic drop for Drood

False proscenium for Drood

Drood

Drood

False prosceniums for

Knickerbocker Holiday

Examples of proscenium style theater with

the “4th Wall Removed”

Note the angle of the set for for both “Sherlock Holmes” & “1776” and how it juts out to give a slight feeling of a “thrust stage”. Also, notice how the light angles and colors give you a sense of the “time of day”.

This style of scenery became very popular once theatre moved indoors and employed the nearly exclusive use of the proscenium arch. The set resembles an “architecturally correct” interior room where it appears that we (the audience) are looking in as though the 4th wall were removed.

Sherlock Holmes thumbnail

Sherlock Holmes finished set

Sherlock Holmes white model

Sherlock Holmes finished set

The Box Set 4th Wall removed “1776”

“1776”

“1776”