Okay, so here's the basics.  You need a wooden stock with a half-moon cut in it to recieve the barrel.  There needs to be a slit up into the halfmoon for the trigger mechanism.  It is a simple level, lift up, and it pivits the other part down, releasing the catch, to be explained later.  On this goes a piece of pipe, maybe 3/4" id.  at one end drill 2 holes across from each other for a pin.  the base of this pipe must have a slit to accept the trigger mechanism.  Find a parasol.  At the end of it, keeping the original spring part in, put a wooden block, the size of a cork or so on it.  The trigger release will grab the wooden block, and hold it down.  On the back end of the block put a chain on, that extends just enough from the pin holes in the barrel to allow the parasol to open.  feed the chain through a spring of the correct length/compression to project the parasol, and attach the other end on the pin.  Attach the barrel to the stock in a variety of ways, and have fun  :->

In Regards to the breakable lute:

I'm sure you're aware, but I feel obliged to remind everyone reading these posts to use EXTRA precaution when building "breakaway" props.

While the human skull might be fairly resilient, remember that the human neck, spine and surrounding muscles supporting said skull are easily prone to injury.  Even a glancing blow with a prop that does not give way can result in serious harm. 

Likewise, the human ear and eye are especially vulnerable and even the best-trained actor in the enthusiasm of performance could mis-cue his attack and create disastrous results.

Personally, I would abandon anything pre-built (such as the bamboo steamers).  Such objects are typically designed to handle casual or severe misuse.  Building from scratch is your best option, keeping an eye toward creating a prop that is physically as flimsy as possible without crumbling in one's hands.

To this end, I recommond papier mache as the strongest contender for the bowl-shape of the lute.  If you're concerned about the breakage showing signs of fakery, then use brown wrapping paper sliced into strips instead of newspaper.  This will resemble wood more readily.  Likewise, for the neck and face of the instrument, please don't use actual wood, but corrugated cardboard from packing boxes.

Ideally, the finished prop will have little or no weight whatsoever, and it will be up to the performers to convey the impact and heft of the piece.

Best of luck, and as always, safety first!

Originally posted by Joan54 in case we ever have to do this ( dreadful, depressing, repulsive) play again.

Dreadful, depressing, repulsive is how you describe one of the best pieces of American drama ever?    Actors wait a lifetime to play the roles in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.  It has been a staple of English, drama and theatre classes for about 40 years.  I suppose we should be thankful that you were at least moved by it enough to characterize as you did. 

I don't mean to sound like some theatre snob but this play has the kind of visceral effect that good drama ought to have.   It's a timeless piece and without it alot of contemporary plays would not have happened.    I can't wait until my ct has the good sense to mount a production of it.

 

Joan54,

I must say I for one am on your side! Can't stand the play either. We don't have to love every classic. there are plently of theatre folk out there to keep this play alive. We need not add ourselve to the Misery

Life is too short to do shows that you don't like. this is even more true when you do it all for free.

I guess doing Virginia Woolf in your living room could be pretty disturbing to the neighbors or a testiment as to how well the actors were playing their roles.

I agree that the play doesn't suite everyone's taste but boy does it get to an emotional core that some other plays only wish they could get to.   It's not an easy ride to take and I can certainly understand how you felt at the end of it, being exposed to it night after night.   And having a Martha that couldn't turn if off when the curtain went down could only have exacerbated the experience for you.

Sorry to hear that your ct lost money on it.   That's also part of the fear of doing it at our ct, that it will alienate subscribers and our other regular patrons.  Fortunately we haven't been reduced to doing just Neil Simon (who has been very, very good to me for roles) and murder mysteries.   In 20 years we've never lost money on a show no matter what it's been.   Some not so much as others but we haven't had losing a show or season in quite some time.

Good luck with Taming of the Shrew!    It's another show I'd wish we'd do if only we could get over our fear of Shakespeare but that's a discussion for another topic.