Disparate Acts: At A Distance

DISPARATE ACTS: AT A DISTANCE was entirely in black and white. The theater measured approximately 54 feet by 26 feet. The walls of the theater were painted black and the floor off-white. The set consisted of four stage flats: a wall, two windows with interior and exterior design, and a doorway.

Each flat was 9 feet x 5 feet x 1½ feet and constructed of nine-sixteenth inch cardboard reinforced with furring strips and painted white. The furniture was constructed of identical materials and painted black. The men wore black suits, white shirts, black ties and shoes. The women wore white evening gowns.

The lighting was specific rather than general and required precise blocking. A 2,000-watt rheostat dimmed 36 individually controlled (i.e., on/off) lights. Sixteen 600-800 watt rheostats controlled sixteen spots. The spots consisted of 75, 150, 200, and 300 watts. There was one floor fluorescent and two hand-held lights.

The original Radio Sonata and other sound materials for the production consisted of two 2-track tapes operated according to a precise time schemata. Desired sound quality was obtained by placing the stage-rear speakers approximately two feet higher than stage front speakers. Channel 1 went into a stereo preamplifier with balance control to the loudspeakers left rear and right front; Channel 2, likewise over a second stereo preamplifier, went into the loudspeakers right rear and left front. Two additional speakers were placed stage right and were manipulated by the actors.