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Breath
Structure
Beckett most carefully orchestrated the 45-second duration of 'Breath'. Five seconds are allowed to establish the setting. Then the sound of the first faint brief wailing cry is synchronised as the light struggles to brighten over a period of ten seconds. A brief five-second silence that follows is ended by a repetition of the distressful cry as the light slowly fades through another ten seconds. After a final five-second silence, total darkness descends with the curtain.
The synchronised lighting, balanced shape, rhythm and precision of timing are all critical for creating a cohesive and expressive structure. Between the beginning and the ending, there is nothing to be said and nothing to be done.
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