Because the action jumps back and forth so rapidly, most productions use a Composite Set showing the Johnstone house (poor), the Lyons house (rich), and the street (neutral) all at once. Click the scenes below to see how the actors physically cross these boundaries.
🤝 The Pact (Prologue)
What happens: Mrs Lyons manipulates a desperate Mrs Johnstone into giving away one of her twins, sealing the deal by swearing on the Bible.
Exam Focus & Proxemics:
Proxemics: Mrs Lyons crosses the stage into the Johnstone house. She invades Mrs Johnstone's space, using her high status to physically trap her.
The Narrator: He stands dead-center in the "street", observing them. He represents the inescapable fate that now binds the two houses together.
Lighting: A harsh spotlight on the Bible in the center of the Johnstone living room.