The Glass Menagerie: Scene One, Lighting and Music Thoughts

From the production notes in the play we see that the lighting for The Glass Menagerie is set up to promote to and constantly remind the audience that the play is in fact a memory, and also sentimental. Lighting is used to show this through the stage set in a dim light, while when Laura is on stage she has a bright light upon her. This distinction of different lighting for specific characters illustrates that Toms memories are based upon the story of Laura.
In scene one when the audience is first introduced to Laura the stage directions show that "the interior has lit up softly and through the scrim we see Amanda and Laura..." This promotes to the audience the significance of an aspect of the stage when the lighting is intensified, in this case the central character in the play, Laura is now on stage.
Towards the end of the scene Amanda is questioning Laura on whether she will have any gentlemen callers. After Laura insists that there won't be any she laughs nervously at her mothers response. At this moment the stage directions state, "a shaft of very clear light is thrown on her face against the faded tapestry of the curtains". This bold amount of light is significant compared to the dim light usually established in the play. It is seen as significant in the play that Laura slips through the portières, and the light on her face makes the audience aware that Laura's actions are significant in Tom's memory.
Throughout scene one the lighting upon characters is associated with music. During the scene Tom motions the stage directions to place "a pot of light on Amanda" and he also motions for music. Also at the close of the scene the light "dims out the 'Glass Menagerie' music". This use of music throughout the play illustrate to the audience the emotion behind the memory being portrayed by Tom, but it also distances the play from reality, again signifying that the play is non-realistic. The music played throughout the play is light music, which expresses a delicate but also sad feel. This light music relates to glass, which becomes a motif for Laura in the play. There is beauty about it, but also the tendency for it to be so easily broken.
Throughout the scene music is often played during a characters dialogue. During Amanda's speech the stage directions indicate for the music "'The Glass Menagerie' under faintly. Lightly". This use of music can be seen to express emotion on what the person is saying, but it could also express satire towards the character. The music of 'The Glass Menagerie' sounds similar to clown music, which is often associated with hiding behind something the character is not, which is a mockery for Toms life and his memory.
Therefore, the use of music and lighting in the play is significant in portraying to the audience the depth and importance of Toms memories, but also reminding the audience that what they are viewing is just a memory, which is subjective to Toms thoughts and opinions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUnS1mK9ibo - The Glass Menagerie Music

Mother Courage: Scene 11. Thoughts...

In scene eleven of Mother Courage we see a peasant family who is trying to look out for their family in the town below, which is about to be attacked by the Catholic Regiment. At this point of the scene Kattrin climbs up onto the peasants roof and begins beating her drum. This drum is a symbol for Kattrin's voice, as she uses it to try and save the other people in the town below. Being disabled, Kattrin is observed as the physically weaker character as she is described as 'poor creature' which dehumanizes her.
However, we see throughout the scene that in fact, Kattrin is the strongest character in the play as her compassion for others is more important than her own life. This is seen as the peasant family try to stop Kattrin from playing the drum to save themselves, and they threaten to kill her. This risk of death illustrates that idea that surrounds the scene, the threat of death. In this moment "Kattrin starts to cry, but she goes on drumming". This shows that although Kattrin knows she is risking her life, she is prepared to die as she knows that her one life is less valuable than a entire town. This compassion and care shows that audience that even though Kattrin does not speak, she has the loudest and most influential voice, which is the irony of the play.

Throughout the scene the peasant man and his wife are seen onlooking at the town below where their family are, but they have no desire to go and save them and believe that their fate has been made. This shows the destruction of war, as people think of self, and not of others. They are willing to kill one person, or observe a towns killing in order to save themselves.
On page 82 the peasant wife says a long speech to Kattrin, ordering her to pray for the town to be saved. In the speech she says a parody of the Lord's prayer, "Our Father, which art in Heaven, hear Thou our prayer, let not the town be destroyed" This parody signifies what is real in the world has been distorted. People thinking only of oneself, rather than for others.