Where Do I Get One Of Those?

[andy_s]

what's the wierdest / toughest thing anyone's had to provide for a show? for example, the stage direction says "she takes the knife and throws it into the sea. It turns into a dove and flies away" This defeated us, I'm afraid, but I'm sure a combination of much bigger budget, magic consultant and dove wrangler would have helped solve it.

[robloxley]

"Exit, pursued by a bear" is always an interesting one to see what is done.

 

Oh, and houses/barns that need to burn down are always fun to do without it looking naff!

[NickLee]

"the set melts", anyone?

 

Or how about a stage version of Bruce Almighty?

"A monkey emerges from the seat of his jeans"

 

--N

[smeggie]

one fun one was the gost of banquo in the scottish play -

the set was arranged so that he had to appear in the centre of the stage - the show was in the round!

not fun. ;)

that one was fun...

smeg

[TeeJay]

Paraphrased but in essence:

 

"Above the cast, the warring hosts of Heaven begin Armageddon."

 

:blink: ;)

[James C]

OK - my proudest propping moment (Andy, I think I may have bragged to you about this before!): Had to make cans of "Hick" Lager (Designer requested Red Stripe" or "Kestrel Super") for the wedding scene in Peer Gynt that would fizz everywhere if opened onstage, but could not contain alcohol (Local Byelaw, I believe, or maybe just a deep distrust of the dancers who played the smaller acting roles ;) ).

As a lowly ASM I phoned a local brewery (despite a distinct lack of faith being shown by all except my SM when I suggested this at a production meeting) , and blagged 50 CASES of Kestrel Super cans filled with fizzy water, provided they had "not for resale" stamped in tiny writing on the base. In fact, the brewery were so edgy about the fizzy-water cans being sold on the black market, they insisted that any unused cans be returned at the end of the run in exchange for 2 cases of real kestrel super to be consumed at the end-of-show party!!! (We never took them up on the offer of real Kestrel Super, for obvious reasons!!!).

 

:)! Another opportunity to dwell on former glories!

 

More recently, got a broken minidisc walkman out of Richer Sounds, despite being told by them that it wouldn't be possible on the first attempt! (Ask once, ask for a different person next time. Get the same person twice, go to plan B - see below*)

 

*=Plan B: Attrition: Wear them down by asking the same question repeatedly - this works especially well when begging actors to do voluntary press calls, as 2 hours after you asked them the first time, they've forgotten which excuse they used last time,and when corrected, are shamed into saying yes :blink:

[PeterT]

I had to build the exploding clock for 'Cold Comfort Farm'. The problem was the clock had to be fixed on stage and then explode again a few minutes later! In the end I made a clock with two halves for the top and a door closer was used to force the sides apart. Finally a door release magnet was used to hold the clock together and when the clock had to explode you simply cut the mains briefly. All the person then had to do was close the two halves back together and the magnet held again. It took many weeks of agonised thought before I came up with the solution and I must confess to being really proud of that clock! ;)

[smeggie]

nice trick.

 

 

for next weeks word, try (wait for it...)

 

Extrapolation

 

smooth!

B) B) B)

 

smeggie

[Captainj_uk]

I had to build the exploding clock for 'Cold Comfort Farm'. The problem was the clock had to be fixed on stage and then explode again a few minutes later! In the end I made a clock with two halves for the top and a door closer was used to force the sides apart. Finally a door release magnet was used to hold the clock together and when the clock had to explode you simply cut the mains briefly. All the person then had to do was close the two halves back together and the magnet held again. It took many weeks of agonised thought before I came up with the solution and I must confess to being really proud of that clock! :blink:

 

Hi. We will be producing "Cold Comfort Farm" in March 2010 and require an Exploding Clock !

Might we borrow the one you made - alternatively can you supply more detailed construction details.

John Burbery, Taunton Thespians

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