COSTUME AND THEIR INTERPRETATION

COSTUME / MAKE-UP

Costumes are generally cloths actors put on in the theatre. Costumes are cloths appropriate for a character in a play. It is also refers to as accessories worn by actors or character as the case may be, e.g. accessories  such as hats, earring, wrist watches, necklaces, etc. Generally, they are anything worn which is not cloths. Anything worn by any actor on stage and not put in use by the actor should not go on stage. It means that every items or accessories with actors on stage should be put to use within the duration of that scene.

Make-up comes in liquid or solid form. They are often applied to body parts not covered by cloth that is going to be exposed. The function of costume is also the same as the functions of make-up and they are outlined below:

FUNCTIONS OF COSTUME AND MAKE-UP

The functions of costume / make-up are listed below:

1.      It help to interprets the play

2.      It help determine hierarchy (position or ranking)

3.      It determine status (social status, how rich or poor you are)

4.      Costume and make-up help to determine sex (gender)

5.      It you determine mood

6.      It help you determine period or time.  (period refers to longer years while time refers to shorter time)

COSTUMES AND THEIR INTERPRETATION

      Colors even though has meaning and interpretation yet this interpretation are not universally acceptable to all. Each colors mean different thing to different people, race, tribe, culture and religion. However, we shall mention few colors and their interpretation:

1.      White: White represents purity, religion and ritual.

2.      Black: The color black means evil, mourning, ritual, or anything bad is colored black.

3.      Red: Red connotes danger, evil, blood, authority, power, ritual and religion.

4.      Blue: The color blue represents love, peace. It is also for the morning sky.

5.      Green: The color green represents renewal, rebirth, (regeneration) It is also known for peace.

6.      Yellow / orange: Stands for vibrancy, gaiety, bright colors are generally used for joyous occasion.

7.      Purple: Purple represents royalty in western world and it is also for religion, e.g. Bishops in Catholics Churches.

COSTUME IN THE THEATRE

Costume in the theatre is about the most important visual element in theatre. Since costume can give a vivid description of any actor on stage that is why it is said that costume is second to the actor in any stage production.

FACTOR THAT DETERMINES COSTUME IN A PLAY

1.      The given facts or the information provided by the playwright.

2.      The tradition and culture of the story line.

3.      Geography: This is the climate of the play, these three forms the primary basis to determine costume in a play. The secondary determinant factor is: period, Time, Action, Age and sex.

TYPES OF MAKE-UP

Make-up is usually applied on characters according to their roles in a play. It comes in liquid or solid form and it is often applied on parts not covered by cloth and parts meant to be exposed. Below are three types of make-up:

1.      Character Make-up: Character make-up is applied on actors to make them look like the desired character acting in a play.

2.      Straight Make-up: This Make-up is applied on actors who possess natural or physical characteristics of the desired character. They can also be called Type-cast.

3.      Symbolic Make-up: The word symbolic comes from symbol. It involves making characters up to look like animals or inanimate objects, an impressionistic character.

By:

Eguriase S. M. Okaka