Mrs Johnstone
Mrs Johnstone would be wearing a working cream dress with sleeves that go
mid elbow, but she would have them rolled up the slightest bit more. The dress
would be made from nylon and would have white buttons from the waist to the neck.
It would also have a soft collar. When cleaning/working she would tie a flower-
patterned apron around her waist, this would be made from linen. This would have a
pocket at the front and would be slightly stained, showing her as a working woman.
She would be wearing black tights under her dress and black leather lace up shoes.
Her hair would be tied back into a bun, but little hairs would be coming out of the bun
along her hair line and at the back of her neck, showing how she has been working.
For the start of the play, she would be wearing a golden chain locket, until the scene
where she gives it to Edward. Mrs Johnstone’s costume remains the same
throughout the play.
Mrs Lyons
Start of the play
She would be wearing a green tweed button down skirt that reaches her
knees. Buttons would be black and would be plastic. She would have a silk white
blouse tucked into her skirt, with frills around the buttons, buttons would be plastic.
Over her blouse she would have a green cardigan (matching with her skirt). This
would have two buttons on one side and pockets. She would be wearing black tights
and her shoes would be black leather laced shoes with not a scruff in sight. Her hair
would be tied back into a tight bun with not a single strand out of place.
Later in the play
She would be wearing the same green tweed skirt and same silk white
blouse. Her cardigan would be crooked on her shoulders and a button would
have fallen off. The remaining button would be played with as a nervous tick. Her
hair would now be slightly messier with stands of hair poking out for a look of
paranoia and distress. She would have mascara smudges under her eyes to
make her look as if she has been crying and her lipstick would be slightly
smudged around her lips.
This change in hair and makeup makes the paranoia and mental decline of Mrs
Lyons very apparent and clear with the appearance of nervous ticks and
smudged makeup
The costume difference between Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons make the social
class difference quite apparent and easy to spot and process for the audience. From
Mrs Johnstone would be wearing a working cream dress with sleeves that go
mid elbow, but she would have them rolled up the slightest bit more. The dress
would be made from nylon and would have white buttons from the waist to the neck.
It would also have a soft collar. When cleaning/working she would tie a flower-
patterned apron around her waist, this would be made from linen. This would have a
pocket at the front and would be slightly stained, showing her as a working woman.
She would be wearing black tights under her dress and black leather lace up shoes.
Her hair would be tied back into a bun, but little hairs would be coming out of the bun
along her hair line and at the back of her neck, showing how she has been working.
For the start of the play, she would be wearing a golden chain locket, until the scene
where she gives it to Edward. Mrs Johnstone’s costume remains the same
throughout the play.
Mrs Lyons
Start of the play
She would be wearing a green tweed button down skirt that reaches her
knees. Buttons would be black and would be plastic. She would have a silk white
blouse tucked into her skirt, with frills around the buttons, buttons would be plastic.
Over her blouse she would have a green cardigan (matching with her skirt). This
would have two buttons on one side and pockets. She would be wearing black tights
and her shoes would be black leather laced shoes with not a scruff in sight. Her hair
would be tied back into a tight bun with not a single strand out of place.
Later in the play
She would be wearing the same green tweed skirt and same silk white
blouse. Her cardigan would be crooked on her shoulders and a button would
have fallen off. The remaining button would be played with as a nervous tick. Her
hair would now be slightly messier with stands of hair poking out for a look of
paranoia and distress. She would have mascara smudges under her eyes to
make her look as if she has been crying and her lipstick would be slightly
smudged around her lips.
This change in hair and makeup makes the paranoia and mental decline of Mrs
Lyons very apparent and clear with the appearance of nervous ticks and
smudged makeup
The costume difference between Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons make the social
class difference quite apparent and easy to spot and process for the audience. From
