The Light Princess Thesis

The Light Princess

UCLA MFA Thesis June 2017 - January 2018

Written by Tori Amos & Samuel Adamson

The Light Princess Rendered Lineup signed.jpg

THE WORLDS

SEALAND

“To the east of Lagobel was its enemy, Sealand, a realm of bountiful coasts and mighty rivers ruled by the tyrant King Ignacio. One day, his wife questioned his tyranny, then mysteriously died. The people did not dare weep.”Sealand is blue, lush, coastal. Possesses all the water but none of the gold. Land of Ice and Water (Cold)

LAGOBEL

“Lagobel was a scorching desert full of gold, ruled by a kind king and queen. The people adored them; but one day the Queen fell ill. Soon, she was dead, and shadows fell. The King wept, his son wept, everyone wept, so it seemed Lagobel that had precious little water, was awash with sorrow.” Lagobel is yellow, arid, landlocked. Posses all the gold but none of the water. Land of Sand and Sun (Hot)

WILDERNESS

“Between them was a frontier known as the Wilderness. It was full of dangerous dragons and strange secrets, and kept the kingdoms separated.” Yellow meeting Blue, therefore green. Wilderness of Emerald

THE SECRET LAKE

Interact between all worlds. Land of flowers, trees, and monsters. The reservoir for Lagobel

SCENOGRAPHY

INSPIRATION: The Fairy-tale quality of the artists from the 1920s, Art Deco, Edmund Dulac, Arthur Rackman, Kay Nielsen, George Wolfe Plank, George Barbier Le Grand, Aubrey Beardsley. And the Mugal Empire and the Viking Culture.

FANTASTICAL FAIRY TALE: A Surrealistic interpretation of The Mugal Empire and Viking Culture through simplification of the two cultures and colour. A Fairy Tale means there is no need to be exact.

SILHOUETTE & SHAPE: The Mugal Empire, India - for the Desert World. The Viking Culture, Nordic - for the Seaworld

FANTASTICAL CREATURES: Human Puppetry (Julie Tyamor - ‘The Magic Flute’ or ‘The Magic Flute’)

COLOUR: Monument Valley. Monument Valley is a puzzle game developed and published by Ustwo Games. The player leads the princess Ida through mazes and optical illusions and impossible objects while manipulating the world around her to reach her goals. It was inspired by Japanese prints, minimalist sculpture, and M. C. Escher’s illustrations.

TEXTURE: Embroidery, Native Animal Inspirational Texture

ARCHITECTURE: The Mugal Empire, India. The Viking Culture, Nordic.

SET: Flat Cutout Quality of Monument Valley and paper cut outs. The separate pieces will be able to track on and off stage and transform easily from world to world.

LIGHTING: Mysterious and story telling like quality. Blues, greens, and purples represent the darkness and mystery of the magical world, while warmer natural lights represent the love and goodness of the magical world. The lighting will follow the peaks and valleys in the movement and energy of the story.

LOCATION: LA Opera theatre

Why this play? Ability to research for Fantasy, Fiction, and Sci-fi Film & TV. Films & TV examples: Stardust, Game of Thrones, Prince of Persia, Pirates of the Caribbean, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Huntsman, Mad Max, Jupiter Ascending, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, Marie Antoinette, Anna Karenina, etc

CHARACTERS of LAGOBEL

ALTHEA the Light Princess of Lagobel, sixteen

PIPER Althea’s companion, an orphan, sixteen

KING DARIUS of Lagobel, Althea’s father

SERJEANT-AT-ARMS of the King of Lagobel

MR. FLOWERS of Lagobel, Althea’s suitor

MR CRABBE of Lagobel, Althea’s suitor

MR. GREY of Lagobel, Althea’s suitor and betrothed

KING’S PHYSICIAN of Lagobel

LAGOBELLANS (SERVANTS, GUARDS, COURTIERS, SOLDIERS) of Lagobel

CHARACTERS of SEALAND

DIGBY the Solemn Prince of Sealand, eighteen