Music and sound
Donât just focus on the visual. If the music or sound effects used in a production stand out (negatively or positively), then you should mention them. Think about:
- How the music was used and when.
- The effect of the music on the audience - did it create mood/atmosphere?
- Was music or sound used symbolically to reflect a character or theme of the play?
- Were there any sound effects and what did these add to the production?
- Did the music work with the rest of the production?
The music in the production, Am I by Shaun Parker and Company at the Sydney Opera House is described in detail by Vicky Frost in her review:
Music and movement here are perfectly balanced: each informing and enhancing the other. Both have a distinctive language â Nick Wales' other-worldly score heady with hanging harmonies and strong percussion, and infused with both Indian and medieval influences. The musicians sit on a platform above the stage, occasionally looming out of the dark, as below the dancers make tight, sharp movements.
This description is very effective as it gives the reader a lot of information about the music in a few sentences. It not only lists the different types of music used such as Indian and medieval, but it also mentions how it meshes with the performersâ movements. She also refers to the fact that the musicians are sitting on stage occasionally looming out the dark
which paints a clear picture in the mind of the reader. She could have gone on to describe how this made her feel and whether the live music performed on stage added anything to the production.