Question

Read the excerpt from Trifles.

MRS. HALE. Duty’s all right, but I guess that deputy sheriff that came out to make the fire might have got a little of this one. (Gives the roller towel a pull.) Wish I’d thought of that sooner. Seems mean to talk about her for not having things slicked up when she had to come away in such a hurry.

MRS. PETERS. (who has gone to a small table in the left rear corner of the room, and lifted one end of a towel that covers a pan). She had bread set. (Stands still.)

How would an audio recording of this excerpt help establish the setting of the play?
through the characters’ expressions as they talk
through the changing tones of the characters’ voices
through the use of props such as the roller towel
through the sound effect of footsteps around the kitchen

Answer 1

through the sound effect of footsteps around the kitchen

An audio recording can’t show facial expressions or most visual props, but it can convey the location and activity through ambient sounds (footsteps, the towel being pulled, pans, bread being set) and so establish the kitchen setting and the characters’ movements.