Hey all, Thanks so much for all your contributions re: the yellow brick road on the set construction site.  Now I need help in ideas as to how to  melt the wicked witch.  My thought was to use a bucket full of sparkly confetti and have her slink down behind a rock so only her hat is left on top of the rock......but i would love to hear your ideas.

Originally posted by Topper I remember a production where the witch got splashed with water and then she toppled over backwards behind a low wall (I'm assuming onto a hidden pad or mattress).    Screaming "I'm melting" she would flail about behind the wall -- duck down again -- and was replaced with a LITTLE GIRL (I'm assuming one of the Munchkins) wearing a witch hat and costume that were much too big on her.   This miniature witch would flail about (while we still heard the original witch screaming) -- duck down behind the wall -- and be replaced with a HAND PUPPET in a witch's costume (I'm assuming again, operated by the original witch actress).   Finally, this puppet would slink below the wall as the screams faded.  It was very theatrical, effective and frankly, hilarious.  It got huge applause for its sheer audacity.

We've also done the little witch and hand puppet scheme.  Though its pretty apparent what is really going on, it does add a nice touch of humor.

I just built a set piece to do just this trick.  Before the dressers got to the piece it looked very much like a gallows.  Steps leading up to a raised platform with a trap door in the center.  The witches throne stis over the platform.  Both the chairs seat and the trap door sre hinged to drop down.  As the actress is hit with the confetti, she drops into the seat with her robe covering the trap door.  From underneath a stage hand lets down the trap door and then lets down the seat bottom (Obviously the witch is supporting herself on the throne chair arms).  As she steps down the ladder the robe stays at the throne and she just slips out from beneath, the wide brimmed witch hat covering the neck hole. When she is out the doors are raised again. 

They are not saying that there are munchkins IN this scene..just that for the effect, someone who was playing a munchkin will play a smaller witch