Trifles

     I think the proposal of a minimalist play for Trifles could work, but would not due a play like Trifles justice. Yes, the play would bypass the distraction of set design and be forced to concentrate on the words and emotions of the play and the characters. However, much of the plot requires certain objects to be present, such as the birdcage. The characters also interacted a lot with the props on stage, so this aspect of the play would be lost and would force audience members to really concentrate on the movements of the actors which as a result have to become very precise. With a bunch of props an actor can easily look busy, but to look busy without any objects would require a concentration from the actor.
     It could be done, but the world of the play would be changed and that has an impact. The play would lose it's contextual significance as a story, and would indeed enter into a world of the abstract. Now that I think about it though, an entirely neutral version of Trifles would be very interesting to watch due to the lack of props that are normally there. As aforementioned there would be a higher concentration on the movement of the actors which is where the expression of emotion comes from, so it could be effective, but the play would not be itself anymore.