The Woodsman Play Analysis

On October 3, 2016, I watched The Woodsman in class at Brigham Young University. James Ortiz directed the play, along with the production team Claire Karpen (Director), Molly Seidel (Costume Design), Catherine Clark and Jamie Roderick (Lighting Design) and Becca Key (Production Manager). A Broadway Production, The Woodsman epitomized the strength of technical design while allowing the audience to fall in love with the characters. Throughout the entire production, it was evident that the director was trying to bring out the idea of love. That love never ended—it didn’t matter if the Woodsman was made of flesh or tin—his wife always loved him. The concept was emphasized throughout the play, from the time the Woodsman was born until he went in search of his lost wife. Following the concept of love, according to Sherri Sheridan, author of Developing Digital Short Films, objects, sounds, colors and words can all be symbolic of love. Ortiz utilized this concept throughout the play, particularly when the Woodsman’s wife said one word, and one word only, “Please!” Her plea

The director’s concept was again realized in a very creative and simple way. The stage crew did not have time to literally place trees on the stage, or to paint a border that elaborate—the light made the slatted walls look real and really allowed the audience to become a part of the experience. As an audience member, I completely fell in love with the story of the Woodsman. Every time his wife panged on his chest to remind him that he had a heart, mine fluttered in unison. The sound and lighting only made the most intense moments more so, and it joined the characters together, whether it was when the flashlights were lightning bugs or when the main characters “la-la-ed” together to understand the beat of chopping down a