By: Veronica Y Gonzalez
The Container was unlike any other play I have seen or heard of. The setting was extremely creative. The entire play took place inside a shipping container and the audience was sitting among the actors. This looked like it was an amazing experience and I wish I would have had the opportunity to be there.
The Story: Growing up as a Mexican, I had heard many stories of how immigrants from Mexico managed to make it into the United States. This involved many days traveling on foot or hiding in secret parts in trucks. All of these consumed my mind so I never wondered how people in other countries migrated. This story reminded me that Mexicans aren’t the only people who are illegal immigrants like the media loves to enforce. This story talks about 6 refugees from different parts of the world who paid to be transported to England.
Throughout the play we see many sensitive subjects being brought up. All the characters are escaping war and violence. One of them is escaping her home because it isn’t allowed for women to be teachers there. Poverty is also brought up when the refugees need to give extra payment and some have nothing valuable left. This led to the teacher being sexually assaulted because she couldn’t pay and no one else paid for her. We don’t see her anymore after that happens leading us to wonder what ended up happening to her.
The Setting: As seen in the picture above, the setup of the play is unique. The actors and the small audience are inside the shipping container that is placed outside the theater. The actors are scattered around with 2 being towards the back and 2, later 3, being towards the front of the container near the door. The audience is sitting among the actors. I believe they were instructed to wear black clothing so they could blend into the darkness as to not disrupt the play.
Having a setting like this allows for a unique experience. The audience can have a sense that they are part of the play. They can feel as if they themselves are refugees scared for their lives. The lights are only placed on the actors who are performing at the time so the audience members are in complete darkness for quite some time. This to me represents a feeling of being lost. Not only do the audience members not know what is going to happen next in the play, but if they feel themselves immersed in the play they don’t know what is going to happen to them either. They’re in the dark literally and metaphorically.
The Difference: Seeing this performance on a screen instead of in person created a completely different experience. Due to the multiple camera angles and the lighting, watching this play on the screen honestly felt like watching a movie. At some points, I would forget that this was actually play. Then, I would catch a glimpse of an audience member and that would remind me that it isn’t a movie. Watching the play on a screen isn’t as profound as watching it in person.
When I see a play live, I feel a connection to it. I’m in the same room as the performers and other people who are going to be part of the experience. Everyone in the room is a real person who has their own story but when the play starts we become new people. The audience becomes nothing. We are silent and we watch the performance. The actors become their characters. They put on a show for us to react and feel various emotions. When I watch these plays a screen, I feel like I’m not part of it and it isn’t as captivating or as emotional.