THE WELL OF HORNINESS

| 2021 | INDIANA UNIVERSITY | THE WELLS-METZ THEATRE |

DIRECTION: RJ HODDE

SCENIC DESIGN: RACHEL ROSE ROBERTS (BURKE)

LIGHTING DESIGN: COREY GOULDEN-NAITOVE

COSTUME DESIGN: JERRILYN LANIER-DUCKWORTH

SOUND DESIGN: ANDREW HOPSON

              For this production of The Well of Horniness by Holly Hughes, we wanted to break out of the cage that was digital performances and drag the audience back into the exciting, playful, and chaotic world that is live theatre. Our aesthetic was to combine the feel of Manhattan night life with this idea of a “comedy machine,” a touch of film noir, and a dash of “adult jungle-gym.” As a celebration of lesbian lust and a themed party of what was originally intended to be a radio play- our direction was to provide the production with the means of a playground with the functionality of fast, fun, comedy gold. The set was metal, fun, and it surprised the audience with continuous tricks and turns. At the center of it all was a wall of rusty panels that would later turn into practical doors, windows, tables, and even “A NEW CAR!” Transitions were quick to support the energy and comedic timing and practical lighting was built into every nook and cranny. The manipulated songs from the 80’s helped to bridge the gap between older scripted references and the continued relevance of today. A swirling storm of neon covered the floor with a manhole cover inscribed with “HOLE” at its center. The harsh, rusty, and grimy metal treatments and dramatic composition of the scenery represented the night life aesthetic as well as the grit and stubborn over exaggeration of the characters, as they consistently break the fourth wall revealing they are themselves, actors.        

-DESIGN STATEMENT-