The design featured a dynamic and symbolic landscape that mirrored the disjointed narrative and thematic exploration of America’s treatment of Native Americans. Smith employed sweeping, abstract forms and modular elements, allowing for fluid transitions between the Wild West spectacle and the intimate, haunting moments of reflection. His use of bold, evocative colors and larger-than-life imagery underscored the theatricality of Buffalo Bill’s persona while exposing the underlying tragedies of conquest and cultural erasure. Smith’s innovative approach seamlessly blended spectacle with substance, amplifying the play’s critique of American mythology.
Oliver smiths “Indians” (1969)