Woke Soyinka employed different dramatic techniques in his play, "The Lion and the Jewel" to create this beautiful piece we have.
One of them is the use of mime during the "Dance of the Lost Traveller", which portrays the sudden arrival of a photographer in the village of Ilujinle some time ago. Lakunle is made to play the lost stranger while four village girls kneel on the ground to form the wheels of a car. Lakunle adjusts their position and sits in air in the middle. He pretends to drive the car.The girls shudder, and drop their faces on their laps. He pretends to try to restart the car. He gets out and checks the wheels of the car, and pinches them. He tries to start the car, fails and takes his things for a trek.
He hears a girl giggling, but not understanding the sound, he throws the bottle that he was drinking from in that direction. This makes Sidi scream and respond with a torrent of abuse. Startled, the stranger takes a closer look and sees Sidi playing in the stream. He tries to take photos, but he falls into the stream.
Then the villagers arrive and angrily takes him to the centre of the village to see their baale- Baroka. The villagers once again start thirsting for his blood. He is hauled before Baroka, thrown on his face. He tries to explain his plight. Baroka seems to understand and orders a feast in the Lost Traveller's honour. He then takes the opportunity to take more photos of Sidi. He is also pressed to drink lots of alcohol, and at the end of the play, he is close to vomiting.
Another dramatic technique deployed by Wole Soyinka in to this play is the use of flashback.
Through flashback, we see how Baroka managed to foil the Public Works attempt to build a railroad through Ilujinle. An action that would usher in civilization into the remote village. We see the surveyor, a whiteman examining the construction site with his workers. Then comes Baroka with his guards. His guards drives away the workers while Baroka bribes the surveyor to move the railroad much farther away. Then the surveyor suddenly realizes that "the earth is most unsuitable, could not possibly support the weight of a railway engine". He packs his instruments and leaves.
Other dramatic techniques used in this play include:
I. the use of dance.
II. the use of music and drumming.
III. The use of aside. E.t.c
Another dramatic technique deployed by Wole Soyinka in to this play is the use of flashback.
Through flashback, we see how Baroka managed to foil the Public Works attempt to build a railroad through Ilujinle. An action that would usher in civilization into the remote village. We see the surveyor, a whiteman examining the construction site with his workers. Then comes Baroka with his guards. His guards drives away the workers while Baroka bribes the surveyor to move the railroad much farther away. Then the surveyor suddenly realizes that "the earth is most unsuitable, could not possibly support the weight of a railway engine". He packs his instruments and leaves.
Other dramatic techniques used in this play include:
I. the use of dance.
II. the use of music and drumming.
III. The use of aside. E.t.c
Comments