Special+Effects

​ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =Special Effects= Special effects are used to enhance the memory of both female characters and help convey the flavor of the time the emotions of the characters and the situations. This also helps to evoke emotions to the audience such as anger, sadness and happiness of their survival. Bridie and Sheila are like a vehicle and we as a viewer becomes a passenger of the journey of their friendship and their memory of war. This two characters unlocking their past memories of their survival and we as a a listener are about to succed and discover the terror of war and makes us acknowledge it in the way we wanted and so feel the emotions of the darkness of war.

The photograph of the women in Japanese prison camp was shown while Bridie and Sheila are talking in the studio, this slides often create juxtaposition with what is being said or are used to support. This educates the audience about the war and helps to convey Misto’s theme effectively which is the pain of war, power and memories that Australian Army Nurses experienced as a prisoner. This photographs makes audience understand what was the main value of the story, this was shown in the stage because it effectively invite the audience to question why this horrific things happened, and thus listening to Bridie and Sheila makes them understand and appreciate the story more clearly. They wants us to acknowledge their story so by using the stage direction it helps to get the attention of the public and deliver the message by their own perspectives.

The music has an effect that enhances the image and each scenes mood to establish the reality of the past and conveying the power of memory. “Happy times” was playing on-air while Bridie and Sheila being interviewed, this suggest the importance of their friendship as they are ready to make sacrifice for each other for the sake of their survival back in the past. This song juxtaposed by the sound of machine gun fire and the cries of women on the soundtrack. It expresses the brutality of war and how many life it destroys.

The photograph of the male army prisoner that is starving to death emphasise the relations between them and Sheila. When the light comes up to show Sheila it is suggesting that not only specific individual are the part of the horrific war, everyone are being affected, theres is no stereotype of either you are male or female. This also shows that they both experience the same situations, such as hunger, emotional and physical distressed. The photograph shows the pain, the power of the Japanese and the memories of Bridie and Sheila.

Special effect become a vehicle that makes us more familiar with the character of Bridie and Sheila, such as how they face the trials and consequences. When a picture Japanese soldier, very much a warrior, fierce and terrifying was shown we manage to understand their fear and admire the bravery of this two characters on how they manage to stay alive.

The red ‘On Air’ signs in the stage lights up which symbolically shows the flag of the Japanese reminding us that they have the dominancy of the war as they have the power to control and hurt people whenever they would wanted to.

The audience dragged in with the music and projected images taking the audience back with them to the time they need each other most. So that together they can relive the memory and share each other pain and attempting to bring Bridie and Sheila together through sharing their pain stories and having the world know about their bravery, their pain and torture and their suffering. Misto wants to tell how brave the Australian army nurse and their story must be heard. He Explain, “I don’t have the power to build a memorial. So I wrote a play instead”.

__ Special Effects Maddie Dunstan __

John Misto used the concept of displaying distinctly visual images on the back drop on the set. This specific effect of projected images juxtaposed with the dramatic action enables detailed images to form in the minds of both the audience and the reader.

Used in a distinct manner these images have the sole purpose of demands the mind’s eye of the audience. The way that Misto creates this is by visually stimulating and broadening the images formed in the mentality of the audience. Done in a style that broadens and colour images it enables extra emphasis to be put on particular moments during the play and it is used as a deeper aspect that widens the meaning being portrayed in scenes in //The Shoe Horn Sonata//.

Deathly! Cadaverous like figures are projected against the back drop at the start Scene seven Act one. Misto used this technique as a visual aid to kindle the minds of the audience and to enable a thought to be provoked. As the statures of the women diminish in front of your eyes, empathy is felt as their tortured frames hang flimsy and lifeless on the screen. Visually I see the emptiness in the women’s eyes and the sheer degradation that was experienced in the camps. Misto used this as a significant facet into contrasting meaning for the audience, by providing further visual support.

In a similar context, in Act two Scene nine pictures are once again projected against the back drop but this time showing the gaunt, tropical ulcer covered men being held captive in similar pow camps.

The special effects throughout The Shoe Horn Sonata help endorse purpose, meaning and understanding for the viewers. The voice overs of young Sheila and young Bridie and the photographs projected onto the background of the set are examples of these special effects in the play. These are used when a certain or specific topic is being described or when something is the main focus of interest, usually in a visual form. Act one scene five, ‘And the Japs’d come round and beat us for the fun of it. ‘Useless Mouths’ they used to call us.’ Then on the screen there is photograph just of the face of a Japanese solider, a fierce and terrifying expression on his face, making viewers feel empathy for the female nurses who had to deal with these brutal men. The special effects are used as an aid in the play. The voice overs of young Bridie and young Sheila demonstrate how young and innocent the two women were. They sound very kind, caring people who, unfortunately were stuck in some horrible circumstances. This makes the audience feel compassion and sympathy for Bridie and Sheila. These voice overs add a unique attribute to the play by giving viewers something new, which in turn engages viewers. Throughout the scene various images are projected onto the background of the set. The hostile slaves of the women lined up for food, slept in barracks and carried water day in day out in a cruel routine. Tortured, abused, agony inflicted nurses were displayed on the backdrop in an attempt by John Misto for the viewers to feel empathy for the brutal experiences of the nurses. Then onwards through the scene the livid, beastly and infuriated face of a Japanese solider is displayed on the screen. Once again having viewers feel empathy for the nurses.