Lecture Notes: Las Meninas by Lynn Nottage

Introduction

• Play: Las Meninas by Lynn Nottage
• Context: Most contemporary play discussed; part of a video discussion lecture
• Rules for an Inclusionary Theater Space:
  • Make space for each other's opinions
  • Use "I" statements
  • Acknowledge the online classroom as a safe zone
  • Be aware of triggers for others
  • Speak through lived experiences
  • Avoid abstraction or generalization to prevent stereotyping

Lynn Nottage: Background and Achievements

• Birth: 1964
• Nationality: African-American
• Notable Awards: Two Pulitzer Prizes for Ruined (2009) and Sweat (2017)
• Themes in Work: Varied themes from the civil war in Congo (Ruined) to blue-collar workers in America (Sweat)
• Current Work: Active in Broadway and other productions; politically active
• Social Activism: Organizer of We See You White American Theater Manifesto; conducted humanitarian aid in DR Congo
• Quotes:
  • Finds characters in varied places (newspaper, historical texts, conversations, imagination)
  • Mission to tell stories of marginalized women of color

Las Meninas: Overview and Themes

• Historical Context: Based on obscure historical texts, focused on Louisee Maria Teresa (Black Nun of Moray)
• Setting: 1695 looking back to 1664
• Main Characters:
  • Louisee Maria Teresa
  • King Louise XIV (Sun King)
  • Queen Maria Teresa of Spain
  • Naboo Sensigali
• Themes:
  • Creation vs. Erasure
  • Theatricality vs. Realism
  • Marginalization and Cultural Identity
  • Art vs. Reality
  • Love and Tragedy
• Language, Music, and Spectacle:
  • Queen Maria's accent is humorously conveyed
  • Music and dances integral to the play
  • Spectacle through costumes and set design

Setting and Perspectives

• Setting: 1695 (Louisee narrating) vs. 1664 (Queen Maria and Naboo's story)
• Las Meninas Painting: Perspective issues, mirrored images, and placement of figures
• Play's Title: Inspired by Diego Velázquez's painting

Production Considerations

• Theater Spaces:
  • Proscenium style
  • Three-quarter thrust
  • Theatre-in-the-round
  • Black box
• Lighting and Scene Changes: Lighting effects to differentiate between convent and palace scenes

Cultural Identity in Characters

• Discussion Topic: Importance of cultural identity for characters like Louisee, Queen Maria, Naboo, and King Louise

Contemporary Theater Challenges

• Theater in the Age of COVID:
  • Physical limitations and social distancing
  • Cost of production vs. revenue
  • Use of Zoom and multimedia
  • Attention spans and competing media
• Future of Theater: Keeping it relevant and engaging audiences

Conclusion

• Purpose of Theater: Relevance in the 21st century
• Final Challenge: Encouraging live performance attendance
• Acknowledgement: Course completion and future engagement
• Professor: Professor Cantor
• Institution: IRSC (Indian River State College)

Thank you for attending.