Five Truths: Stanislavsky and Brecht

The Five Truths scenes using Brecht and Stanislavski were very different scenes. Starting off with the Stanislavsky scene, the first thing that I noticed from the very beginning of the video was the lighting. The main character Ophelia opens the scene by lighting a cigarette. The cigarette glows orange as the main source of light, though there are likely also dim stage lights so that the audience can see Ophelia. Ophelia uses her hand with her cigarette to turn on the lamp that sits on the desk. When the light turns on it too gives off a ‘warm’ yellowish orange glow that is nearly the same color as the light of the cigarette. Now that the set is a bit more illuminated, the audience can now see the desk, it’s contents, and Ophelia’s heartbroken expression. Ophelia’s movements in these first couple seconds seem natural and organic, as anyone who was not acting in a scene would do the same. Her movements after this are very slow and deliberate as she opens the bag containing her father’s things. At this point, she is very obviously upset and sad: you can see a tear roll down her cheek. Her slow movements seem to signify the weight of what has happened on her shoulders, dragging her down. The actor has immersed herself in the emotions of Ophelia, someone who has just lost a family member and is lost in grief. 

When Ophelia stands up and stands next to the desk, she holds flowers and has a look of despair on her face. The camera zooms in on her hands - in one shaking hand she holds the flowers and in the other hand she dangles the cigarette, steady. This is a big contrast because her shaking hand shows her natural reaction to her fathers death - upset and possibly unhinged - while her steady hand seems to be her single connection to reality (in the here and now). When she starts to speak and sing her expression is still pained but she seems to no longer be present. She stares off into space and does not make eye contact with the audience (the camera). When she sings there is no background music, the sound is acapella. WHen Ophelia goes and finds the poison in the desk, there is pure pain plastered on her face.When she’s lying in the water waiting to die, she looks defeated and dissociated from her life. Overall, The Stanislavsky interpretation of this scene focuses on the emotions of Ophelia and aims to replicate the emotions of someone who has lost a loved one, but also someone who has lost their connection to reality. 

The Brecht interpretation of this same scene is somewhat different. To open the scene, Ophelia also turns on a light, but this time the light is industrial and is the color of LED lights. This also causes the industrial theater lights to turn on above the desk. This lighting seems harsh and bright compared to the lighting in the Stanislavsky scene, and when paired with the same costume and similar props as the Stanislavsky scene, the combination of the set and the lighting is slightly jarring, as the desk seems like something you would find in someone’s living room but the lights are industrial and would not be found in a house.

Like in the Stanislavsky scene, Ophelia opens the bag with her father’s things, but instead of examining them for sentimental value like she did with Stanislavsky, she examines the items to see if they are profitable and takes the money from her fathers wallet and places it in her own. All the while Ophelia’s face is blank and emotionless, and she seems focused on what she is doing. Her movements are faster and more purposeful; they still feel somewhat natural, but not really appropriate for the situation. It is odd to see someone riffle through their dead fathers things when another person would typically be struck with grief. Ophelia does not seem like this at all, and she seems very focused and ‘business-like.’ This is evident when she stands up and grabs the flowers and her wallet. Like in the Stanislavsky scene, Ophelia stands next to the desk and sings, but this singing is somewhat jarring because the song says “He is dead, and gone” but has a somewhat happy and upbeat background music. Ophelia also looks directly at the camera as if she is talking directly to the audience, and when she speaks after this she breaks out of character and narrates by saying “she said” and then saying her lines. When Ophelia returns to her desk, she takes the stolen money and her father’s ring as well as some papers. She seems to be rushing at this point, but her face is still emotionless. When Ophelia walks into the water, she breaks character and narrates her actions. When she swallows the pill, she almost looks angry, but still her expressions do not seem sincere. When Ophelia dies in the scene, it is not realistic like it was in Stanislavsky - she announces her death and then lies back in the water with her eyes closed, as if to say, “I’m going to die, and now I’m dead.” Overall, Brecht’s interpretation of the scene aims to make the audience slightly uncomfortable and guide the audience to ask questions about the scene and also the world. 

Both the Stanislavsky and Brecht interpretations create very different atmospheres and feelings. The scene with Stanislavsky method is much more literal and emotional while the scene with Brecht’s method makes the audience question why Ophelia acts the way she does and what are the motives behind her actions. Brecht’s scene does not really allow the audience to emotionally connect with the character like the Stanislavsky scene does because Ophelia does not act like a normal person and breaks out of character at several points in the scene. Stanislavsky’s scene seemed to focus more on the symbolism and meaning behind her movements and the objects in the scene. Overall both scenes were very interesting!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OD7phopWWk&list=PL1WKARV4AmThMp0LSLgTVBnvNczVJkUHd&index=1