The Undeniable Sound of Right Now by Laura Eason
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to watch this play at The Road Less Traveled Productions on Main Street. What initially peaked my interest about this play was the CBGB’s style rock-and-roll vibe, and the father daughter dynamic it promised. Aspects I found interesting about the design elements of the show were the 90′s era costumes, the “authentic bar” set design, the onstage lights and ‘offstage’ rave lights, and of course the sound design.
I was moved by the moment when Hank, who’s just had this intimate and powerful guitar solo, un-plugs his electric guitar from its amp and we are nearly deafened by the whine until it fades into the next scene. There was a clear distinction between ‘practical’ music that was playing on a radio in the bar versus the live guitar/singing versus the music that was outside of the world of the play.
It was very realistic that this bar had lots of mismatched chairs and stools, sticker graffiti, and even a chipped table; it looked lived-in. My favorite set dressing was the Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention Mona Lisa poster that they hang prominently in the second act.
I wanted to wear every part of Lena (Hank’s 20-something daughter)’s outfits; I thought she embodied the nineties youth aesthetic to a tee.
I found it interesting that there were onstage lights including LED Christmas string-light practicals. I couldn’t tell from where I was watching if the stage lights for the bar stage were actually used during the show, but if so, that is a clever way to mix the reality bar lighting with theatrical lighting. I also loved the pink/purple rave lighting throbbing from behind the warehouse door in time with the music. It was a really creative way of representing the rave without actually seeing it.