Final answer:
In directing and blocking, stage type is crucial in determining actor placement, and stage directions offer guidance that can be adapted based on the specific requirements of the production, actors, and staging area.
Step-by-step explanation:
Directing and Blocking on Various Stage Types
Directing a scene involves decisive placement of actors on the stage to convey the story effectively. For an arena stage, the concept of upstage must be established since the audience surrounds the entire stage, and actors can then be blocked in relation to this agreed point. With a thrust stage, where the stage juts into the audience, actors need to be positioned strategically to maintain visibility to as much of the audience as possible, necessitating more dynamic blocking. In proscenium and thrust stages, directors use conventional terminology: downstage (towards audience), upstage (away from audience), stage right (actor's right), and stage left (actor's left).
Stage directions guide directors, actors, and designers on the playwright's vision, including character movement, scenic design, props, and sound cues. In a production, certain stage directions by playwrights like Charles Mee in “Big Love” may be adapted to suit the production needs, actor capabilities, and the physicality of the space. Finally, the effectiveness of a production often depends on the director's interpretation and the practical aspects such as stage type, actor proficiency, and scenic design limitations.