Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: wings

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Joan54
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Topic: wings
Posted: 6/21/07 at 4:42pm

I am doodling around with a lot of ideas and none of them seem all that good...thought I'd throw this one out and see if better minds than mine have already solved this.

We're producing the Tempest and there is a scene where the director wants Ariel to spread his wings ( for those who are familar with the play it's where he "claps his wings on the table and makes the banquet disappear" ...thanks Bill). So we have Ariel in all of the other scenes without visible wings and then, voila! they spring out of his back, big and bold enough to "clap" on the table.

I am not making Ariel a fairy or an "angel" so no feathered bird wings.....they will be more like a bat wing.....ribs with flesh between. I am thinking in two directions..

Sprung steel folded down along the backs of his arms, legs, torso...held in place with bands....release the bands and woosh...open wings (and probably take out an eye or two).....they cannot be refolded except with difficulty...backstage...so we have to get him and the wings off the stage.

a pulley/ trip lever system where there is one long rib for each wing that is attached to a pivot point on the back...string runs down back to heel....put heel down..pull string...pivot two ribs up above arms and the rest of the fabric wing follows. This way the wings can be relaxed by lifting the heel. I like this idea the best but it involves a lot more mechanics than I am used to.

Has anyone built a system like this? Any better ideas?

"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"

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Kathy S
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Posted: 6/22/07 at 5:15pm

OMG, Joan, I think you are in a league of your own...

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Linda S
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Posted: 6/22/07 at 7:07pm

I would come to the show just to see the wings!

Linda

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tristanrobin
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Posted: 6/24/07 at 10:54pm

when you finish these wings, post pictures!!!!!!!

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Mr. Lowell
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Posted: 6/27/07 at 11:24pm

Hi Joan. An interesting problem.

I would think that your biggest challenge would be to make it foolproof.

No matter how cool an effect is, it has to be repeatable under show conditions. We must always consider the "Murphy's Law of Theatre", which states that anything that can go wrong, often does. So I usually go with the low tech solution. Or the K.I.S.S. solution, as some people say. Sometimes an effect that has been around the world of theatre for hundreds of years is still the one that gets a "wow" from an audience.

I have never built wings that are fully hidden behind the actor's back like you describe.

But a couple years ago I designed a musical called "Children of Eden" that called for a "dove" to land on "Noah's ark". As you can see in the photos below, the sheer fabric was attached to the ballet dancer's back and she merely held two long dowels. It was effective and fluid.

http://www.lowell.to/posters/EDEN65b.jpg

http://www.lowell.to/posters/EDEN56.jpg

http://www.lowell.to/posters/EDEN59a.jpg

However, even with such a SIMPLE arrangement, we still had one wing break as she exited into the wings on opening night. Murphy's Law.

Anyhow, like I said, the simpler you can make your effect the better.

If I happen brainstorm any ideas for this effect, I will post them ASAP.

Good luck. -Dana

Mr. Lowell,
Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director,
for the Linda Sloan Theatre,
in the Davison Center for the Arts,
at Greensboro Day School

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Joan54
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Posted: 6/28/07 at 2:48pm

Thanks for all of your support everyone...and the photos, Mr. Lowell. I agree that I may be seeking disaster by incorporating mechanics into a costume but I haven't given up yet. I have made the two upper "struts" of the wings move from a vertical position ( running from between the shoulder blades down to the ankles) to a horizontal position above the shoulders by pulling only one string downwards about 10". The long struts pivot on two other smaller ( about 8") pieces that also pivot on the fixed pieces on the actors back. So far so good. Now all I have to do is add more struts and cover the whole thing with some fine fabric. The struts are hoop steel wrapped in muslin (normally bought for making farthingales) and they have a nice flex and bounce.

We are closing our production of "A Winter's Tale" this Saturday (32 full period costumes)...opening the Shakespeare Festival on July 5th (six plays in three days) and opening "Love's Labor Lost" on July 13th so I'm afraid that the mechanics for The Tempest (opening September 1st) will just have to wait. When can finally focus my eyes again and flex my fingers I'll take some pictures and share what may be a very memorable disaster.....I keep imagining the actor pulling that cord and, just like a rip cord on a parachute, nothing happening. Same sinking feeling, same metaphorical splat. J

"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"

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Mr. Lowell
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Posted: 6/28/07 at 10:53pm

Hi Joan,

I gave it a little thought today, and came up with a simple solution that I would suggest to my director if she ever asked for wings in this scene. I'm not exactly sure what is called for in your production, but just humor me for a second...

Like I said above, I feel that the simplest solution sometimes is the safest. If I were doing The Tempest again, I would probably deem this effect "not very critical to the plot", so I'm guessing I would not devote much time and angst into it.

So anyway, here's my idea.

Make the wings a part of Ariels costume. Make everything lightweight, flexible and breathable. When the wings are stored on his back, the audience will see them as a cape or cloak. The fabric that will later form the spread of the wings is allowed to drape down his back and at his sides...in full, billowy pleats. This wing fabric attaches onto two short dowel rods, (much like the dove in my Children of Eden photo above), but these two dowels are stored within straps or pouches on Ariel's back.

This method of storage is similar to the scabbard that holds arrows for an Indian warrior. Or better yet, Xena from the TV show. To deploy the two wings, Ariel would simply, (or eloquently), raise both arms over his head, reach back and grab the wing handles over his shoulders. He can then unfurl the wings in a sweeping motion...and then clap them down on the banquet table as called for.

I've sketched some rough and rudimentary illustrations of this process:

http://www.lowell.to/Tech/ArielWingConcept.gif

The Xena method!

Simple and foolproof.

The fullness of the pleats in the lightweight fabric would actually cover my backpack-looking apperatus, so for most of the show the audience would just see this as a rustic cloak of the period. If the fullness of this stuff on his back telegraphs to the audience: "stored wings", then hey, no problem...Ariel IS a fairy after all.

After the "wing scene" is over, Ariel could then reverse the sweeping arm motion to put the wings back into the sheaths. Who knows, maybe the actor will latch onto this gimmick as a piece of character business!...and ask the director if he can use it again in other choice moments!

When it comes down to it...it's just a quick bit in a long show...so I would not put much more detail into it, (unless my director was VERY insistant!)

Oh well, just my little brainstorm. I hope it all turns out well for you. And if I ever do The Tempest again, I'll have to mention this bit to our director!

Break a leg, Dana

Mr. Lowell,
Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director,
for the Linda Sloan Theatre,
in the Davison Center for the Arts,
at Greensboro Day School

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Joan54
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Joined: 10/03/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 207

Posted: 6/29/07 at 7:45am

I love it...the Xena method......I'll discuss this with the director today before I spend any more time on the "sure to jam up or snap off" method.....thanks..J

"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"

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Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup

Author	Message
Joan54 Celebrity Joined: 10/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Topic: wings Posted: 6/21/07 at 4:42pm
	I am doodling around with a lot of ideas and none of them seem all that good...thought I'd throw this one out and see if better minds than mine have already solved this. We're producing the Tempest and there is a scene where the director wants Ariel to spread his wings ( for those who are familar with the play it's where he "claps his wings on the table and makes the banquet disappear" ...thanks Bill). So we have Ariel in all of the other scenes without visible wings and then, voila! they spring out of his back, big and bold enough to "clap" on the table. I am not making Ariel a fairy or an "angel" so no feathered bird wings.....they will be more like a bat wing.....ribs with flesh between. I am thinking in two directions.. Sprung steel folded down along the backs of his arms, legs, torso...held in place with bands....release the bands and woosh...open wings (and probably take out an eye or two).....they cannot be refolded except with difficulty...backstage...so we have to get him and the wings off the stage. or a pulley/ trip lever system where there is one long rib for each wing that is attached to a pivot point on the back...string runs down back to heel....put heel down..pull string...pivot two ribs up above arms and the rest of the fabric wing follows. This way the wings can be relaxed by lifting the heel. I like this idea the best but it involves a lot more mechanics than I am used to. Has anyone built a system like this? Any better ideas?
	"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"

	IP Logged

Kathy S Celebrity Joined: 8/21/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 303	Posted: 6/22/07 at 5:15pm
	OMG, Joan, I think you are in a league of your own...
	IP Logged

Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Posted: 6/22/07 at 7:07pm
	I would come to the show just to see the wings! Linda
	IP Logged

tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 6/24/07 at 10:54pm
	when you finish these wings, post pictures!!!!!!!
	IP Logged

Mr. Lowell Celebrity Joined: 1/30/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 269	Posted: 6/27/07 at 11:24pm
	Hi Joan. An interesting problem. I would think that your biggest challenge would be to make it foolproof. No matter how cool an effect is, it has to be repeatable under show conditions. We must always consider the "Murphy's Law of Theatre", which states that anything that can go wrong, often does. So I usually go with the low tech solution. Or the K.I.S.S. solution, as some people say. Sometimes an effect that has been around the world of theatre for hundreds of years is still the one that gets a "wow" from an audience. I have never built wings that are fully hidden behind the actor's back like you describe. But a couple years ago I designed a musical called "Children of Eden" that called for a "dove" to land on "Noah's ark". As you can see in the photos below, the sheer fabric was attached to the ballet dancer's back and she merely held two long dowels. It was effective and fluid. http://www.lowell.to/posters/EDEN65b.jpg http://www.lowell.to/posters/EDEN56.jpg http://www.lowell.to/posters/EDEN59a.jpg However, even with such a SIMPLE arrangement, we still had one wing break as she exited into the wings on opening night. Murphy's Law. Anyhow, like I said, the simpler you can make your effect the better. If I happen brainstorm any ideas for this effect, I will post them ASAP. Good luck. -Dana
	Mr. Lowell, Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director, for the Linda Sloan Theatre, in the Davison Center for the Arts, at Greensboro Day School
	IP Logged

Joan54 Celebrity Joined: 10/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Posted: 6/28/07 at 2:48pm
	Thanks for all of your support everyone...and the photos, Mr. Lowell. I agree that I may be seeking disaster by incorporating mechanics into a costume but I haven't given up yet. I have made the two upper "struts" of the wings move from a vertical position ( running from between the shoulder blades down to the ankles) to a horizontal position above the shoulders by pulling only one string downwards about 10". The long struts pivot on two other smaller ( about 8") pieces that also pivot on the fixed pieces on the actors back. So far so good. Now all I have to do is add more struts and cover the whole thing with some fine fabric. The struts are hoop steel wrapped in muslin (normally bought for making farthingales) and they have a nice flex and bounce. We are closing our production of "A Winter's Tale" this Saturday (32 full period costumes)...opening the Shakespeare Festival on July 5th (six plays in three days) and opening "Love's Labor Lost" on July 13th so I'm afraid that the mechanics for The Tempest (opening September 1st) will just have to wait. When can finally focus my eyes again and flex my fingers I'll take some pictures and share what may be a very memorable disaster.....I keep imagining the actor pulling that cord and, just like a rip cord on a parachute, nothing happening. Same sinking feeling, same metaphorical splat. J
	"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"
	IP Logged

Mr. Lowell Celebrity Joined: 1/30/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 269	Posted: 6/28/07 at 10:53pm
	Hi Joan, I gave it a little thought today, and came up with a simple solution that I would suggest to my director if she ever asked for wings in this scene. I'm not exactly sure what is called for in your production, but just humor me for a second... Like I said above, I feel that the simplest solution sometimes is the safest. If I were doing The Tempest again, I would probably deem this effect "not very critical to the plot", so I'm guessing I would not devote much time and angst into it. So anyway, here's my idea. Make the wings a part of Ariels costume. Make everything lightweight, flexible and breathable. When the wings are stored on his back, the audience will see them as a cape or cloak. The fabric that will later form the spread of the wings is allowed to drape down his back and at his sides...in full, billowy pleats. This wing fabric attaches onto two short dowel rods, (much like the dove in my Children of Eden photo above), but these two dowels are stored within straps or pouches on Ariel's back. This method of storage is similar to the scabbard that holds arrows for an Indian warrior. Or better yet, Xena from the TV show. To deploy the two wings, Ariel would simply, (or eloquently), raise both arms over his head, reach back and grab the wing handles over his shoulders. He can then unfurl the wings in a sweeping motion...and then clap them down on the banquet table as called for. I've sketched some rough and rudimentary illustrations of this process: http://www.lowell.to/Tech/ArielWingConcept.gif The Xena method! Simple and foolproof. The fullness of the pleats in the lightweight fabric would actually cover my backpack-looking apperatus, so for most of the show the audience would just see this as a rustic cloak of the period. If the fullness of this stuff on his back telegraphs to the audience: "stored wings", then hey, no problem...Ariel IS a fairy after all. After the "wing scene" is over, Ariel could then reverse the sweeping arm motion to put the wings back into the sheaths. Who knows, maybe the actor will latch onto this gimmick as a piece of character business!...and ask the director if he can use it again in other choice moments! When it comes down to it...it's just a quick bit in a long show...so I would not put much more detail into it, (unless my director was VERY insistant!) Oh well, just my little brainstorm. I hope it all turns out well for you. And if I ever do The Tempest again, I'll have to mention this bit to our director! Break a leg, Dana
	Mr. Lowell, Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director, for the Linda Sloan Theatre, in the Davison Center for the Arts, at Greensboro Day School
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Joan54 Celebrity Joined: 10/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Posted: 6/29/07 at 7:45am
	I love it...the Xena method......I'll discuss this with the director today before I spend any more time on the "sure to jam up or snap off" method.....thanks..J
	"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"
	IP Logged

Topic: wings( Topic Closed)