As a designer, outline how one theatrical element could be developed for the role of the

Maniac to create impact on the audience in this opening extract. [20]

For my overall design concept for this play is to place emphasis on key parts of the set and
the characters. I would be designing for an end on stage to create the fourth wall between the actors
and audience that can be broken by the maniac but not the other characters. In my set I would place
emphasis on key bits of set by having minimal set, made up of a window, two doors, a filing cabinet
and a desk with a chair. With this I can show the importance of the window and the entrances and
exits (doors), especially for the slapstick comedy element of the play. I would use sound primarily for
sound effects to add to the comedic effect of certain things and the lighting would be plain so as not
to detract from the set and actors and what is happening on stage. For the Maniac I am going to
focus on his costume, as this plays an important part throughout the play with the different
Characters the maniac takes on during the play, which shows the deceiving nature of the Maniac.

For the Maniac’s costume I would take inspiration from the Italian Commedia dell’arte,
especially the Arlecchino figure. I would do this by incorporating some of these influences into a
more modern costume design. The maniac would wear a brown leather trench coat with matching
brown fedora. However, these would include lots of colour, with the trench coat having diamond
patches of different colours sewed onto it. The fedora would have a colourful, diamond patterned
handkerchief in it. This is of course taking inspiration from the diamond patched costume the
Arlecchino figure traditionally wore. My Maniac would also wear dark trousers and a colourful shirt
to create a clash of colours.

This is important because it sets the Maniac apart from all the other characters in the play. I
would have them all in common, stereotypical police uniform with blue the only real colour in their
costume. Therefore when the maniac first enters, he would immediately have an impact on the
audience because he is in a completely different costume to everyone else on stage. This also would
help the audience to connect with the maniac as the costume is almost reminiscent of a clown outfit
and therefore creates a connection with the audience, which is one of the aims of the play to get the
Maniac’s (and Fo’s) message to the audience.

For the many of the Maniac’s costume changes, they would be kept in the plastic bags he
brings on stage with him. These disguises would be very simple so as to ridicule the police for the
fact that they fall for his trickery when it is very obvious. The Maniac would put the simple disguises
on in front of the audience so as to reduce the element of surprise and so the audience are
completely certain it is still the Maniac. These costume changes could be as simple as a pair of
glasses and a fake moustache to make it incredibly clear it is still the Maniac.

In conclusion, my costume for the Maniac would take inspiration from the Commedia
dell’arte with lots of colour in diamond patches which would help to set the Maniac apart from all
the other characters in the play. This means the audience can create a relationship with the Maniac
which is one of the first intentions of Dario Fo.