Rabid
A new play by David Mohrman
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California

Directed by Jim Spaulding
Scenic Design by Jennifer Furnari
Lighting Design by M. Scott Grabau
Costume Design by Mary Scott

The lighting design for Rabid was selected as a finalist in the 1992 American College Theater Festival competition.
Rabid is set in an unnamed third world country. The story examines power and the various way people go after it and at what expense.
	In researching for this play I began looking at images of people in primitive society. I found this image very appealing. I liked the idea of a place where there was a lot of contrast between bright sun and dark shade. The jungle has layers to it. The deeper you go into it the more is revealed. I liked the juxtaposition of comfortable ideas like mother and child with the danger and vulnerability of the jungle.
The ideas from that image found their place in how the ensemble was used to comment on the action of the play. The back wall of the scenery was translucent layers of scrim and tobacco cloth. Behind it actors posed in tableau making grotesque faces and body contortions.