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Sofas get their theatre debut...

A lot of time and effort goes into a theatrical or musical production; the actors have their scenes and lines to learn, the costume-designers have to come up with creations to match the scenes, and the stage-hands have their behind-the-scenes work to do. In many a production, the first thing the audience sees when the curtain is raised is a sofa. It often takes pride of place, with the rest of the scene grouped around it.

The sofa will be one of the most important props in the production, a focal point if you like. People will sit and lie on it, conduct affairs of the heart on it, and, in many a scene, as in real life, it will become a temporary bed for an unexpected overnight guest. The producer will decide how much prominence to give to the sofa. For instance, he may want it to blend into the background or he may decide that the audience should be constantly reminded of its importance. This decision will dictate the type and colour of the sofa itself. If its setting needs to be downplayed, the set-designer will opt for a sofa in a muted tone so that it becomes an insignificant part of the overall set; if most=2
0of the action takes place on the sofa, it will need to have a more important role.

Many theatrical productions involve few players and simple, almost stark props. In this case, a sofa could well be one of only a few pieces on the stage. The producer may decide on a simple but dramatic tone and may choose a sofa in a plain colour that contrasts with the rest of the scene. A black sofa in a pale setting will add to the drama of any play or musical, but, where the actors wear flamboyant costumes in bright colours, the sofa will need to fade into the background and not clash with the players.

Like all sofas, the sofa which takes centre-stage in a play will need to be robust and well made; the last thing the cast needs is for it to collapse mid-scene. Therefore, care should be taken when choosing a sofa for a theatrical production, as care as one would take when buying a sofa for the home. In some productions, little thought is given to the quality of the props used, and this can detract from great acting and story-telling – it is only fair to the players, the production team, and the audience, to ensure that every part of a play or musical meets the same high standard. When the well-chosen sofa makes its own debut, it will only enhance a great production.