There are many plays throughout history that tend to grab the hearts of the audience as if they were truly on stage alongside the actors. From an overall Intimate Apparel perspective, it would seem like this wouldn't be one of those pieces. From a simple summary of the story, one might assume that the play would be one gossip story after another, perhaps even a soap opera type play. However, through two elements of the set, scenic design and a combination of set and theater, as well as carefully considered costumes, Ball State Universities' production of Intimate Apparel allows the audience to become emotionally involved in the play. , at first glance it seems quite simple, there is a wall, a stage and another wall with some doors and a window. However, as the play begins, it is clear that the simplistic set design is very well planned. The right side of the stage serves as Esther's bedroom throughout the play. The room itself is very simple, to the point of being boring. However, as the audience learns more about Esther herself, it becomes clear that this plays into her personality. She leads a rather boring life where only local gossip and letters to a man she has never met are her only form of entertainment. That said, much like Esther and her talent for fabric and sewing, the piece has its own style elements, including a rather intricate blanket that some say has gone out of fashion with time. The center is a mix between a passage to access the left side and Mr. Mark's fabric store. This was a wise choice because the theater in which Intimate Apparel was presented is a small theater on its own, so it was necessary to add a multi-purpose stage that allows for walking, shopping and...... in the middle of the paper... ...because even though Esther wore Mayme's exact bustier, she couldn't fill it out like Mayme could, and so she wasn't what George was looking for. With every detail even the most numerous would overlook, Ball State Universities said. Intimate Apparel's production takes audiences to the 1900s and puts them on stage with the actors. Even though the audience is simply playing the role of a friend listening to a story, the fact that the set design, as well as the location where the play takes place, brings in elements of the play that might have been missing. The color and fabric of the costumes the characters wear carefully contribute to the already delicate symbols inscribed in the play. In fact, through stage design, sets, acting and costumes, Ball State Universities' production of Intimate Apparel intricately interweaves the emotions of the play with those of the audience..