The eye naturally focuses on the strongest light visible, and even the smallest modification in the relative brightness of two areas will be discernible. The lighting designer can shift the attention of the spectators from one area of the
stage
to another, or focus their attention on this or that object by simply changing the
level
of light, which will in turn change the brightness of the object. Thus lighting becomes a convenient tool for focusing the attention of the audience on the dramatic essence of the scene.
Perception of visual stimuli is a selective process. The spectator does not respond uniformly to any stimulus with which he or she is faced, and if there are too many stimuli vying for attention, the spectator will not be able to
concentrate on any of them. In this respect, the contribution and role of the lighting designer is to design a composition, a picture on the stage, which will control the stimuli and the competition between them as far as possible.
Focusing of the audience's attention begins when the house lights are brought down, the curtain light brought up and down again, and finally the curtain raised to expose the
stage
in
preset
light, ready for the theatrical event to begin.
There are several methods by which details can be emphasized and the audience's attention focused. The element we wish to emphasize can be lit at a different - higher -
level
of brightness than the rest of the
stage
(1) . Likewise, attention can be focused by using color, by directing the light onto specific areas of the stage, by using lighting angles which create shadows, by rapid or gradual changes of the lighting, or by using automated moving lights which sweep across the stage. The lighting designer can easily transfer the attention of the audience from an isolated detail - for instance an actor lit strongly with the rest of the
stage
relatively dark - to an entire
stage
picture lit by dozens of luminaires.
The Seagull, The Cameri Theatre of Tel-Aviv
The designer must keep in mind that when the light focuses attention, this must be coordinated with the action on stage. If one actor of a group is lit even slightly more strongly than the others, this could cause the audience to focus on that actor, even while another actor is delivering a monologue. Experienced actors are aware of this and often ask the designer to help them by accentuating the light on them during a monologue.
The preparation of the spectators is a factor which influences the attention of the spectators. Spectators who have already seen the play, or read reviews on it, will find it easier to focus their attention on certain aspects of the play as they are equipped with knowledge of why, how, and on what, to concentrate.
