Funtions of Costumes: Accent, Reflect, and Reveal

Costumes have quite an important role in the theatre and according to Dennis Spore’s Reality Through the Arts, costumes have three purposes: to accent, reflect, and to reveal (Spore 155).  When a costume accents a play, it shows the relationship between characters and it also lets the audience know which character/s are more important. 
Costumes reflect a certain time, for instance time of day, era, or location.  If a play takes place during the 1920’s, the actors should be wearing the appropriate clothing.  Jeans and a t-shirt would not be sufficed.  The clothing should show the audience what time period they are in, without having to tell them directly. 

1.1 Appropriate time period clothing http://s1.hubimg.com/u/635488_f520.jpg

Costumes need to also reveal a character in with it showcases the type of person they are.  If the character is wealthy, then he/she would be wearing expensive looking clothes.  Costumes also reveal the profession of characters; a doctor, as shown in photo 1.2, should be wearing a white coat, scrubs and/or a stethoscope. 

1.2 Doctor and nurse both clearly showcase their profession 

http://therapidian.org/sites/default/files/article_images/studio3twenty-3-34-xl.jpg