House of Desires

by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

Ithaca College Theatre Arts Department, Clark Theatre

Fall 2021

Directed by: Marc Gomes

Costume Design: Olivia Kirschbaum

Scenic Design: Hannah Sotnek

Lighting Design: Cora Mckenna

Sound Design: Beth Truax

House of Desires is a 17th-century farce that mocks the privilege and luxury of a group of nobles in Toledo, Spain. The story draws inspiration from playwright Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz’s experiences in the court of New Mexico, centering the story around a young desirable woman and the men that seek to marry her. Complications arise as she hides from her father in the home of her foil, Dona Ana, who shares a love for the same man that she does. Just as the men in this world use the women as tools to measure their honor, Dona Ana, the wealthiest woman, uses her stature to manipulate the narrative as best she can, in order to compete with the idea of a far more beautiful woman, Dona Leonore.

These are the themes the creative team chose to highlight while creating the visual world of House of Desires

Deception

Deception is a major theme in House of Desires and the creation of surface-level drama throughout the show. The text requires the use of cloaks and veils for physical deception to communicate the humor more clearly. To connect all the worlds visually, I chose to use sheer fabrics that help ground the abstract world the team created.
Social Hierarchy

I created a visual language by assigning the nobles a rich jewel-tone palette with a modernized silhouette. This stands in sharp contrast to the servants, who have a muted palette with a silhouette that utilizes the shape of the 17th century.
Oppressive Religion

I utilized the most recognizable shapes and colors from the uniform of the Pope and abstracted them to fit into this world. Dona Ana and Don Pedro pull the most visual inspiration from Catholicism to symbolize the power and wealth they have.

Research that influenced House of Desires

The goals for this design were to create a world of luxury and wealth that translates from 1683 to a modern perspective. By drawing a clear line between the levels of wealth, the design showcases the influence of the Church within the appearance of the characters. The color palette used is pulled from historical and Liturgical references that act as the framework for building this world. The importance of creating a visual divide of class keeps the story grounded in a real-world that is embellished by touches of the modern world.