by William Shakespeare
Longwood University, Farmville, VA, 2000.
My design inspiration started with the paintings of Maxfield Parrish. His color palette and the romantic, languorous mood in his work seemed fitting for our production, particularly the court. For the world of the fairies, I looked to woods. Oberon and Titania are fashioned after owls; silent, watchful and clever. The fairies themselves wear the textures of the natural world; twigs, leaves, moss and moth wings. And Puck’s look was derived from a hedgehog as a fun conterpart to his master.
We built every piece in this show. I particularly enjoyed creating the gowns for Hermia and Helena, which were hand painted rayon with an over layer of chiffon.
