The Rivals

Classwork - 2023

Conceptual Play Design

Design Statement: The Costume Design is inspired by the playful and bizarre nature of puppet and marionette shows, and plays on the absurdity of the scenarios the characters get themselves into. Character is explored through the exaggeration of the times already extreme proportions and silhouettes. Each upper class character is assigned a jewel-tone color to fit their personality and status, and their respective servants wear a muted version of this color to show their association. To further push this class distinction, the upper class use only gold for their metals, while the working class use a steel gray. To further distinguish characters, and to play off the overall theme of romance and courting, each character is assigned a flower with a relevant meaning, which is displayed somewhere on their costume.