Final answer:
The design style for a melodramatic play includes exaggerated scenery and outrageous colors to complement the stage's heightened emotions, distinguishing it from contemporary realism. Designers utilize opulent theatre space and saturated colors to create a captivating, fantastical experience for the audience.
Step-by-step explanation:
The design style for a melodrama play may have exaggerated scenery and outrageous colors to match the exaggerated nature of the acting. In a melodramatic production, elements such as scenography and costumes tend to enhance the narrative by using vivid visuals that align with the heightened emotions and character interactions on stage. Unlike Contemporary Realism, where the goal might be to replicate life accurately, melodrama embraces a more theatrical and fantastical approach, providing a unique opportunity for designers to push the boundaries of realism.
The opulent design often seen in Italian-style theatre influences the way sets are crafted, allowing for striking and memorable permutations of space that support the narrative's intensified affect. With an elaborate style, designers can play with more vivid and dynamic elements to captivate the audience. Besides scenery, lighting and costumes can also be designed to be larger-than-life, reflecting the extravagance of the melodrama genre. In this setting, a lighting designer's palette may become broader, applying saturated colors and atmospheric effects that might otherwise be deemed overly dramatic for a realist play.