Music plays a BIG role

There is a scene in the play where the Cardinal and the Judge share a conversation in church- surrounded by monks, but it's a quiet and calming scene in contrast to others.

< I found this piece on youtube and thought of this scene because of the sound arrangement, which made it sound very old and peaceful. It's church music but comes from the background of Portuguese Renaissance. Along side the music, the accompanied pictures link well to the low and high pitched voices. A lot of the pictures share one factor in common- the colour of gold. Gold is always represented with power, religion or achievement. In the bible, gold is represented as the object of Kings and colour of royalty or superiority.

The play's allegory

the definition of allegory : a story, poem, or picture which can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

The Lion and The Ass
Well anyway, one year, as every year, all the beasts of the valley were invited up to the sanctuary on the top of the mountain for the blessing of the animals. The lion chose the donkey as his travelling companion, because he thought: "This journey is going to be long and wearisome, and when the going starts to get steep I can get up on the donkey's back. He can carry me. And then, if I happen to get hungry, I can eat him too!" So he suggests to the donkey that they travel together, and the donkey agrees. But the donkey proposes a deal: "We'll take turns in carrying each other. Alright? Two miles each." So off they go. When the road starts to get steeper, up speaks the lion: "Time for me to get up on your back!" "Alright, up you go...?" And with a leap the lion is up there on the donkey's back. "Hey, go easy with those claws sticking into my ribs," says the donkey. "You scratch me like that and I bleed to death!" "I can't help it. I have to hold on as best I can! Giddy-up! Giddy-up! Away you go!" So the donkey reaches the top of the mountain, and by this time he's got blood pouring down from his scratches. "Well," he says, "now at least for the journey down it's my turn to ride on your back!" "True enough, fair's fair," says the lion. "You did the work on the way up, I do it on the way down. Away you go!" And the donkey jumps up onto the lion's back... But he has a terrible time keeping his balance. He slithers here and there, because he's got hooves, you see, and he can't get a proper grip. Then all of a sudden our donkey jockey has an idea – a thrust of his loins, stiff as a ramrod, and straight up the lion’s backside. Held in place. Good and solid. "Hey, ho, ouch!" shouts the lion. "What is that blooming great truncheon that you've stuck up my rear?" Forgive me, your majesty...” says the donkey. “I can’t help it – each of us has to hold on as best he can! Giddy-up! Giddy-up! Away you go!"

The obvious link this story has to the play is that the ass gets a grip of the lion because he goes up its backside and one of the devils possesses the wrong person that way. 
The lion seems to be the clever animal at first because it thinks of this plan to have its own way but the unexpected happens when he doesn't succeed in what he thought he'd do and instead, the lion gets punished with his 'own medicine'. All in all i think the message to it is to don't be over-optimistic in what you think will happen because it could lead to a wrong turn. Or don't do something in the first place if it's wrong and you're feeling certain it'll go to plan. 

The Church

What was wrong at that time?
By about 1500, many people began to worry more and more about the many wrong things that were happening among the Church. There were plenty of people who thought that the priests, or Church leaders, were becoming absorbed with making money from the people rather than helping to provide them . Since they wanted to raise enough money to maintain their luxurious lives, they began to do many dishonest things. 

Two previous popes: Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and the current Pope Francis.

Italy is a significant place in our play because it's capital, Rome, is where the base of the Pope is. Catholics believe the Pope is the successor to Saint Peter, who was appointed as the first head of the Church by Christ. Catholicity is the branch that leads off Christianity because different Christians believe different things. The Catholic religion is more specified  then being named Christian; it's a denomination- other 'branches' are like Protestants, Pentecostalism and Methodists etc. 
The obvious leading characters which symbolise religion is : the Cardinal, the Judge and Father Mirone. In our days a Cardinal's job is to advise the current pope and elect the next one. A Judge hears and decides cases in a court of law. Priests guide people in their religious views; teach them about Christ and various beliefs; spread his word and, regularly hold mass or sacraments. 

+My character in the play is incorruptible but does that mean he isn't biased? I'd like to know : does a Judge's religion influence his decision making? Because a lot of the problems I have to face as the Judge is problems that link to religious views, such as fornication etc. Especially as the Judge himself is caught up in the mess.

Different research styles

We have to go further than just the internet. As actors we should use various ways of researching because sticking to just one source can be limiting. Going to physically see something can be more memorable and effective if you engage with what you see. Experiencing sources that don't include having to read or analyse can specify and give you more information in depth. Why read about Leonardo Da Vinci's work during the Italian Renaissance when you can go and see it with your own eyes in a gallery. Rememeber your aim is to transfer reality into a play so what better way of doing it if you do the real thing instead of sitting with a laptop at home.

Art/pictures- Art is an expressive source on a canvas or paper which is always there. It's a visual way of learning so it's useful for observant people.The limits with a piece of art is that you can only make your own judgements and interpretations. You could go to visit a gallery if it's free and it would be a good experience to see someones work with your own eyes.

Newspapers and magazines- If you read these from the period in which your play is based on then you gain a lot of facts and knowledge. You can get a sense of what occurred during that time.

Films/documentaries- I find that by watching films and then taking notes from it after, I remember important information quickly.For some people it can be hard to access a film , especially if it's old.It doesn't go in as much depth as a book but it can still give you a general idea for your research. If it's a film you're watching you should remember that not everything is true because a film's purpose is to entertain so some aspects of it could be exagerated.Documentaries are all facts so if you want to attain definite, pure knowledge then that could suit as a method for you.

Who is Dario Fo?

Dario Fo

Dario Fo with Franca Rame

He's a playwright, director, stage and costume designer and occasionally composes the music for his plays.

• Born: 26 March 1926 in San Giano, Varese, Italy
• In 1940: moved to Milan to study at the Brera Art Academy
• 1954: married Franca Rame (an Italian Theatre actress)

The Italian Renaissance Art

It began in Italy during the 14th century and lasted until the 16th century, marking the transition between Medieval and Modern Europe. 

<This clip is based on some aspects of art that were formed during the Italian Renaissance and that had changed art. Artists like Leonardo Da Vinci was known as the Renaissance man and is thought of as perhaps the greatest artist of all time. Many people across the world have seen a picture of his famous paintings like the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper and his creation of the Vitruvian man- as seen below. 

It's drawn with pen and ink and illustrates the portions of a man.

A lot of Renaissance art is revolved around the Catholic religion- this element plays a strong part in The Devil In Drag. 

<This painting gives me a visual idea of historical costumes, scenery and platforms. Although in our play we use modern clothes and some pieces of costume, it's influenced by the characterisation of each person; their status and physicality. 
    It's named Saint Lucy before the Judge: 1532. From looking at this painting , I can infer that the Judge is more important and has more power than the surrounding people because he is placed centrally at the the top of a high platform. It's like an older version of the scenes in the court room when my character, the Judge, sits on a box. It shows he's in control and can carry the court in whatever way he wants. 
The girl in the middle of the painting is Saint Lucy but in my case I can imagine her to be Jacoba in my final scene, which brings more drama. And the people that surround the two character can be the watching viewers in court. 
The way it is painted makes it look like there is a lot of movement in the scenario by draping material; different muscle movement and postures. It includes the physicality our play should provide and give off.