Set of "BarbieQ"

A set design of a theater adaptation of “BarbieQ” by Sandra Cisneros would require two different sets for the two different scenes.

First there would be a living room where the two characters play with their Barbie’s. There would be typical living room items such as: a coffee table, places to sit, and an array of Barbie outfits strewn across the center of the stage. Here they would play and the narrating character would proceed to stand up and speak to the audience in a soliloquy. This would be executed with the excitement and energy of a child talking about their favorite toys.

Second would be the scene where the two go to the flea market. To transition between the sets the light would go out and the curtain, painted to appear as the living room, would be pulled back to reveal a sky line of Chicago. The skyline would be painted on panels of wood depicting the Chicago skyline one would see if they looked to the north east from Maxwell Street. There would be several stalls on stage which the characters would look for dolls at. Then they would find toys they liked and the narrating character would have a monologue about why so many people at the flea market were selling toys. This would be read with less enthusiasm as the last soliloquy and when the monologue concludes exploring how to improve Barbie’s so they don’t appear damaged the set fades to black.