When my group discussed and decided on our unified vision, we all seemed to interpret the the play in the same way. We all agreed that the Congo is a place of war. It is a run down, tired region that has a slower pace than the one we live in. To live in this world is to fight for your self from one day to the next. This vision creates the world of the Congo as it stands and is accepted today. A community far removed from the world will see our production and accept that it is the Congo and become a part of it.All pieces of our production come together to create one unified vision of what that world is to us. My contribution was sound. Below is how we thought the play would sound.
Our sound design for “Ruined”
The opening scene will start with the sounds of the Ituri rain forest. The sounds of a parrot squawking can be heard in the background. The music will fade when the actors start their dialogue. The music of the Congo will fade in as the end of the scene draws to a close, gradually getting louder as the lights fade.
As scene two opens the loud sound of a generator is heard as the lights come up on the scene. The quiet sounds of conversations can be heard from the patrons in the bar. The parrot and its cage ratting can be heard from the back of the set while a soft jazz song is being sung by Sophie. Catcalls and whistle can be heard from the drunken soldiers cheering on the dancer. These sounds are all heard secondly, as if in the background, while the dialogue begins. All sounds are silenced except for the ever present squawk of the parrot as a drunk rebel solider harasses Sophie while she is on stage. The silence is broken and the music and singing along with the fore mentioned sounds of the bar resume where they left off after Mama makes a deal with the belligerent solider. After Sophie’s song finishes, a soft applause from only a few patrons is heard. The sounds of the bar are heard with emphases on a developing scene between the loud drunk soldiers who are now harassing Salima. Toward the end of scene two Sophie takes the stage and begins to sing another sad soft jazz song that grows louder as the lights fade.
Scene three opens up with the natural sounds of the rain forest. These sounds are faded out and replaced with the distant sounds of birds that can be heard from the open windows and the sound of a slow fan turning in the bedroom. The dialogue is resumed. Steps are heard as Josephine walks down the wooden floor toward the room. The dialogue resumes and a portable radio is turned on. A man’s voice is heard over some static and is muffled from the poor quality speakers, the man is speaking Swahili. The dial is changed and hip-hop music, sung in an African tongue, replaces the sounds of birds as the dialogue continues. The radio is turned off and only the angry voices of the actors are heard as the dialogue heats up. At the end of this scene there is silence after Josephine finishes telling Sophie about her own bitter story, the lights fade and the scene closes.
Scene four opens, you here the hum of the generator already running as the bar sounds grow louder. The sounds of conversation are louder than in the last scenes to give the bar a busier atmosphere. The parrot and its cage rattling is still heard in the background. A louder version of the same soft jazz song is being sung by Sophie. Laughter, catcalls and whistle can be heard from the drunken soldiers cheering on the dancer. These sounds are all heard secondly, as if in the background, while Sophie finishes her song and the dialogue begins. Pool balls can be heard dropping into pockets as the actors continue. At Mama’s cue the musicians change up their song to one with a quicker tempo. The song is still played softly and is heard as background. With the entrance of Osembenga all sounds on stage are silenced quickly. The music and background sounds are slowly increased but do not grow as loud as they were before the officer entered the bar. The sounds of the bar grow quiet again with only the sound of the parrot and its cage as Osembenga grows loud as he speaks. The pace of conversations resume as the heated tone in the officer’s voice is headed off by Mamma’s charm. There is no music for a short time until mama signals the band and the soft jazz resumes. The music and sounds of the bar are faded out at the end of the scene with the lights.Scene five opens with the distant sounds of the rain forest. These sounds are quietly carried through the scene as the windows in the bar are open. The parrot and its cage can also be heard. The scene ends with the sounds of the rain forest still quietly heard as the lights fade.
The rain forest sounds are heard louder as the lights come up for scene six. The bird is heard loudly as Salima sneaks food from under the counter. The sounds of the rainforest are silenced as two ragged soldiers rush in and seem on edge. The sounds of Mama behind the bar straightening items can be heard as the soldiers sit and settle in. As the dialogue heats up between Mamma and Fortune the sounds of the table tipping and items falling are heard along with an upset parrot who is thrashing around noisily. As the lights fade the sounds of the parrot does also.
The rain forest sounds are heard louder as the lights come up for act two. The sounds of a guitar player and drums are heard along with Mama and Sophie’s voices singing a duet. A drum solo grows loud and intense, gradually, and is heard above all else as Josephine dances wildly. The music continues and is faded out with the lights as the first scene closes. The music cross-fades with sounds of distant laughter and gunfire as the lights dim the sounds are quiet.
As scene two opens the natural sounds of the rain forest are heard in the background as the dialogue starts. The sounds are faded out along with the lights as the end of the scene. Rain and occasional thunder along with ever increasing distant gunfire, is heard around the soldier standing outside at the beginning of scene three. The drunken stumbles of the soldier’s footsteps can be heard as they leave the scene. As the scene closes, the sound or pouring rain is heard along with the sounds of gunfire, that has definitely grown closer and more intense, with a backdrop sounds of the rain forest at night.
Scene four opens with the same sounds of the bar as mentioned above, the hum of the generator and patrons engulfed in conversation, and a squawking parrot. The music is turned on; the same hip-hop as before is on the old radio, at Mamas request. The Parrot is heard again as Mama greets some soldiers. The conversations grow quiet and the low sound of the hip hop is all that is heard along with the dialogue of Kisembe, a rebel soldier. After the soldiers leave and the actors mock them a drum beat is heard to intensify Josephine’s tapping rhythm which is being danced to by Christian. The playful sounds stop short when Osembenga enters the scene. The bar is silent except for the dialogue. The scene closes with the rainforest sounds growing as the lights fade. Scene five opens and closes with the sounds of the rain forest and gunfire that is a bit louder than the last scene.
Scene 6 begins with the sounds of the rain forest and artillery fire that is closer than expected. The dialogue continues with some gunfire coming and going. As the dialogue is played out, the sound of chaos, shouting and gunfire growths intense. The sound of the generator blowing is heard as Osembenga enters the scene. Only distant gunfire is heard while Salima screams her dyeing words at the soldiers. The lights fade along with the sounds of the gunfire.
Scene 7 opens with the sounds of the rain forest and the quiet chatter of the parrot along with a quiet song being sung by Sophie without a musical back ground. Sophie leaves the scene and the singing stops as Christian enters. The distant sound of gunfire is still heard but seems further away. At the end of the play a guitar solo plays as the characters dance. The parrot taunts Mama and the music continues as the lights fade.
Works Cited
Marcus, Joan. "Drama critics name ˜Ruined™ best play." MSN. The associated press, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2009.
"RUINED : : Manhattan Theatre Club." Manhattan Theatre Club. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2009. http://www.mtc-nyc.org/current-season/ruined/index.htm.
"RUINED Extends Once Again Thru 6/28 2009/04/29." Broadway World.com - Broadway's Premier Web Resource. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2009. http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/RUINED_Extends_Once_Again_Thru_628_20090429.
"YouTube. Ella Fitgerald. - Broadcast Yourself. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2009. http://www.youtube.com/.
"YouTube. YouTube- Mbuti Forest People, Celebratory Music, Ituri Rainforest. Broadcast Yourself. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2009.
