Throughout the play, Trance, there were several different themes that were explored, however the main idea that was dealt with was the idea of what is real/truthful and what is a delusion. This theme was addressed in many different aspects of the play, but there were two specific elements that I felt implemented this theme very well which include the white lab coat and the use of a very simple set.
The white lab coat was the single prop used in the play, and when it was worn, it allowed each character to try to diagnose the truth of the others reality. At the beginning of the play, the coat, was worn by a single character, Reiko, who believed she was a doctor, and tried to diagnose Masa with Schizophrenia, however in the end each character is seen wearing the coat and none of the characters really know who’s reality is real. The coat lets them believe what they want and lets them create their own reality, it can be whatever they want it to be. When only one character wears the coat, they believe they have the power to diagnose what is real and understand the situation around them, but when the coat is worn by each character, the characters as well as the audience come to the realization that they are free to create whatever truth they want and can live whatever life they want to live, it is not to be determined by anybody else. There was one part in the play where Reiko talks about what is normal and who determines what is normal and because we can’t find anything wrong with someone’s brain we can’t determine what their reality is, and in the end this is the conclusion that is drawn, each character determines their own reality and stops trying to diagnose the realities of the others, signified by each character refusing to take the coat back ending with it lying on one of the blocks.
The use of the very simple set, which included only a few plastic panelled boxes for walls and four white boxes, set on top of a white floor, made the theme of reality/truth and delusion come to life. This set suggests the idea that the characters are possibly patients in a mental hospital and the characters as well as the audience have to use their imaginations as the play goes on to determine what is actually happening. If the characters were indeed patients, then this would suggest that they are making everything they are doing up and having to create their reality and what they think their reality is. This is also seen in their use of pantomime, suggesting that there is nothing in their asylum room and they have to create everything they do including drinking beer, lying on the bed, and going to a doctor’s office. They do not know that their reality is just a delusion, but in fact believe that what they are actually doing is real, when to the audience it is actually just pretend. To the characters in the play, what they are doing is their truth, it is who/what they believe they are, and to the audience, we have to use our imaginations to follow the “reality” of the characters as they proceed in the play.
Overall, I really enjoyed this play. It evoked a lot of thought in my mind and actually seeing it performed helped me to comprehend it much better than when I just read it. It was very stylistically as well as aesthetically appealing and I am glad I had a chance to experience it in London!
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