Black Americans in the mid twentieth century faced countless oppressive challenges including racism and poverty. Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun tells the story of an impoverished family struggling against these issues that unfortunately remain relevant today. Ball State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance recognized these problems in their recent production of Hansberry’s brilliant play. The production team of A Raisin in the Sun utilized a specific connection between prop and costume, clear acting choices, and precise scenic design to effectively convey their main idea that strength of will can overcome any adversity.
Flowers played a role in every scene of the production. Each dress that Mama, played by Dee Dee Batteast, …show more content…
Linder in order to accept his monetary offer and not move into their new house, he went down on his knees and sobbed heavily. Dee Jordan’s acting choice showed Walter Lee pathetically caving into the adversity he faced. The action relayed that he no longer had hope for a better life; he felt irrevocably defeated. However, when Mr. Linder, played by Gabriel Ford-Dunker, finally entered, Dee Jordan sluggishly picked himself up off the ground. At the beginning of his dialogue with Ford-Dunker, Jordan’s body language remained consistent with Walter Lee’s brokenness. As he regained his spirit and decided to decline the money, Dee Jordan began to stand up tall, facing Ford-Dunker eye-to-eye. Mr. Linder represented Walter Lee’s oppression, and Dee Jordan’s physicalities clearly expressed Walter Lee’s perseverance through that oppression. His acting choice to slowly shift his body language from characterizing Walter Lee as succumbing to misery to conquering it successfully communicated the production’s main idea that strength of will can overcome any …show more content…
By the end of the final act, only the cross remained. The Younger household, with the exception of Beneatha, embraced Christian beliefs. Jesus triumphed over death, and his cross symbolizes the ability to overcome life’s overwhelming hardships. Walter Lee and the rest of the Youngers proved that they possessed the strength to overcome the great challenges of racism and poverty. By leaving the cross hanging at the end of the show, the willpower of the Younger family was exemplified because of the cross’s symbolic value. This scenic design choice clarified the production’s main idea that strength of will can overcome any
Flowers played a role in every scene of the production. Each dress that Mama, played by Dee Dee Batteast, …show more content…
Linder in order to accept his monetary offer and not move into their new house, he went down on his knees and sobbed heavily. Dee Jordan’s acting choice showed Walter Lee pathetically caving into the adversity he faced. The action relayed that he no longer had hope for a better life; he felt irrevocably defeated. However, when Mr. Linder, played by Gabriel Ford-Dunker, finally entered, Dee Jordan sluggishly picked himself up off the ground. At the beginning of his dialogue with Ford-Dunker, Jordan’s body language remained consistent with Walter Lee’s brokenness. As he regained his spirit and decided to decline the money, Dee Jordan began to stand up tall, facing Ford-Dunker eye-to-eye. Mr. Linder represented Walter Lee’s oppression, and Dee Jordan’s physicalities clearly expressed Walter Lee’s perseverance through that oppression. His acting choice to slowly shift his body language from characterizing Walter Lee as succumbing to misery to conquering it successfully communicated the production’s main idea that strength of will can overcome any …show more content…
By the end of the final act, only the cross remained. The Younger household, with the exception of Beneatha, embraced Christian beliefs. Jesus triumphed over death, and his cross symbolizes the ability to overcome life’s overwhelming hardships. Walter Lee and the rest of the Youngers proved that they possessed the strength to overcome the great challenges of racism and poverty. By leaving the cross hanging at the end of the show, the willpower of the Younger family was exemplified because of the cross’s symbolic value. This scenic design choice clarified the production’s main idea that strength of will can overcome any