Trifles

by Susan Glaspell

Due to Covid-19 restrictions on campus, my customary Dramatic Scene Assignment would be impossible to complete in-person. Instead of having students work on scenes via Zoom, I elected to create a collaborative performance that each student could do on their own time.

We studied Victorian Paper Theatre techniques, as well as more contemporary Toy Theatre Presentations in preparation; and students had the opportunity to learn about set design and construction, lighting, and costumes, as well as acting and directing on a miniature scale.

Each student constructed their own “stage” using only found materials and rehearsed and recorded their individual two-minute presentations which I edited into a single film that we watched together during our final exam.