What first comes to mind when thinking about dark matter is, the elephant from Elephant's Graveyard. It was the best choice to not show or even abstractly represent the elephant onstage because it would have been distracting, plain and simple. It also would have been complicated and time consuming to visualize and create something so large that the whole play would be revolving around. It would have been the most important set piece, central to the whole show, and what else would have gone with it? Would there be a sound it made? What would that sound be? Lighting would have had to make adjustments for it finding a happy balance between it being lit and the actors. It also would have also hindered the actors' movement onstage. Not physically representing it gives the audience a chance to use their imaginations, not everything needs to be hand-fed to them. The circumstances are so bizarre that it should be up to the audience how real or how out there they want to believe it to be. Either way would have been appropriate for the show, but I think it's more important to let the audience make up their own minds by making the elephant dark matter.
I believe that there is a way to represent the Holocaust. Just because the piece could be beautiful or entertaining does not mean at all that it redeems those actions and what occurred. If it is represented in a manner like such, it would be unforgettable, and that should be the goal. Represent it in a way that people will never forget. Using abstraction to approach this would also be very helpful. The piece could still jar and make people feel uncomfortable, but without certain things being represented and just eluded to, it could make it easier for society to digest. Of course, not everyone will be willing to accept something like this, and that must always be thought of while creating it. Making the most horrifying aspects of the Holocaust dark matter would still show all the terrible occurrences that took place without crossing a fine line.
I agree completely with you regarding the whole 'elephant' actually being present onstage with 'Elephant's Graveyard'. Given how much effort, space, and how much of a distraction that the elephant itself would make, I believe that not making him visually present was a very wise choice. As an audience member, I loved being forced to let my imagination take charge and mind mold the elephant.
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