THE ENCORE — "The Costume"
Prop & Setup Guide

LIGHTING
Candles, not overhead light or harsh lamps. Warm amber bulbs if open flame isn't practical. Aim for a room that "makes a woman" rather than just "makes a room" — soft, moving light, some shadow to hide in and step out of.

MUSIC
Something with space in it — solo cello, slow strings, minimal piano. Avoid lyrics. Think: a room, not a party. Low volume, background presence only.

SCENT
Beeswax (real candles help here), cedar, a trace of something floral but not sweet — think old wood and antique fabric rather than perfume-counter. A paper twist of sugared violets or any small candied flower makes a lovely, specific nod to the letter if you want one edible detail.

WARDROBE
- Partner: something that signals occasion — evening clothes, a good shirt, anything more formal than everyday. The point is ceremony, not costume-drama accuracy.
- Her: layers that can come off slowly and deliberately — buttons, laces, a wrap dress, anything with more than one closure. A robe or wrap underneath that she chooses herself and has never shown a partner works beautifully as the "private, hidden self" object from Beat 4 — it doesn't need to be old or secret in real life, just meaningful to her.
- Optional: a ribbon, ties, or a soft scarf usable for near-touch tracing in Beat 2 — nothing constrictive, purely for the sensation of almost-contact.

PROP CHECKLIST
[ ] Candles or warm lamps (several — the letter's world is candle-lit, not single-source)
[ ] Music queued, low volume
[ ] One item that reads as "occasion" — a small gift, a folded note, or the sugared-violets touch
[ ] A soft tape measure, ribbon, or scarf for near-touch (Beat 2)
[ ] A mirror, if available — standing, wall-mounted, even a large dresser mirror; not required but a lovely echo of the letter's staging
[ ] Her layered wardrobe for the evening, chosen by her in advance
[ ] The "reveal" object or a plan for the spoken version (Beat 4)
[ ] A comfortable place to land afterward — the letter ends in stillness, not a scramble to get up