Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: lute

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Joan54
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Topic: lute
Posted: 5/30/06 at 11:06am

I am having trouble with the lute for The Taming of the Shrew. The local guitar store guy just laughed...they are very expensive. Even if he had one he wouldn't loan it and I'm certainly not blowing the whole budget on such a minor prop.

I was thinking about buying a hard rubber, inflatable beach ball...cutting it in half and gluing it to a round piece of thin plywd....adding a neck and some strings and painting the whole thing brown...

Any other suggestions?

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

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Gaafa
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Posted: 5/30/06 at 9:41pm

Might not a styrofoam ball be more suitable?
These are available from Fishing Tackle Shops & come in various sizes.
They are used as anchor bouys or floats for crab, lobster or cray pots!
They would be easier to cut & glue to the plywood, than the beach ball! Also you wont have any problems with trying to keep it inflated!

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

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Joan54
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Posted: 5/31/06 at 7:39am

Ah! much better idea.....the inflation problem was bothering me too. Thanks.

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

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Topper
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Posted: 5/31/06 at 9:08am

A large plastic or wooden serving/salad/storage bowl mounted to the plywood might do the trick. Covering it with a couple coats of papier mache to elongate it into the familiar "tear drop" shape of a lute is another option.

If using a bowl, you can cut a hole in the plywood face and string the instrument with elastic bands. You might even get a tune out of the thing with a little practice.

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

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Joan54
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Posted: 5/31/06 at 11:06am

I was thinking of stringing it with real guitar strings...it should sound terrible which, being a comedy, is perfect. I like the elastic bands even better.....maybe we can get them to break.

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

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Gaafa
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Location: Australia
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Posted: 6/01/06 at 5:03am

Beaut idea Topper!
Now I come to think of it I?m sure I have come across, tear drop shape wooden fruit bowls in the Charity shops, while searching for props.
This would certainly solve the problem & also certain to fix inflation as well!
As suggested it would make a good sound box with Joans clue of putting strings on it!
That takes me back to the age of the 'Skiffle' groups. With a broom handle & a string attached to a tea chest, as a Double Base.

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

IP Logged

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

Posted: 6/01/06 at 1:17pm

At rehearsal last night I discussed my ideas for the lute with the director and he suggested that if the lute proves to be too difficult we could substitute a small hand harp....easier to build. I am going to look for the salad bowl and give it a few weeks and if nothing happens my way I'll tack together a harp......will keep you posted. By the way my pig is going great. He has a solid foam body...wrapped in batting and fabric and painted to look roasted. The legs are attached with velcro which makes a great ripping sound so that Petruchio can tear the legs off of the pig and beat his servants with them. The most fun is hearing my daughter explain to someone on the phone, "mom is busy..she's painting her pig right now."

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

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Gaafa
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Location: Australia
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Posted: 6/02/06 at 1:01am

Add some pipes & a bit of percussion - you could do an Interlude Joan!
"Brush up your shakespeare" comes to mind.
But what would work well, is to chuck on a dog act to music & make it more authentic!

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

IP Logged

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

Posted: 6/02/06 at 12:02pm

Oh Please....don't curse me with a dog act......we have our hands full just with the cast and crew....they broke the table last night (this is a very physical production) and thought it was hilarious. The last thing I need is a little yapping dog in the wings....

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

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Topper
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Joined: 1/27/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 543

Posted: 6/02/06 at 12:23pm

At least when a dog is "chewing the scenery" it's acting naturally.

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

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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: lute Posted: 5/30/06 at 11:06am
	I am having trouble with the lute for The Taming of the Shrew. The local guitar store guy just laughed...they are very expensive. Even if he had one he wouldn't loan it and I'm certainly not blowing the whole budget on such a minor prop. I was thinking about buying a hard rubber, inflatable beach ball...cutting it in half and gluing it to a round piece of thin plywd....adding a neck and some strings and painting the whole thing brown... Any other suggestions?
	"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"

	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 5/30/06 at 9:41pm
	Might not a styrofoam ball be more suitable? These are available from Fishing Tackle Shops & come in various sizes. They are used as anchor bouys or floats for crab, lobster or cray pots! They would be easier to cut & glue to the plywood, than the beach ball! Also you wont have any problems with trying to keep it inflated!
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

Joan54 Celebrity Joined: 10/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Posted: 5/31/06 at 7:39am
	Ah! much better idea.....the inflation problem was bothering me too. Thanks.
	"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"
	IP Logged

Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 5/31/06 at 9:08am
	A large plastic or wooden serving/salad/storage bowl mounted to the plywood might do the trick. Covering it with a couple coats of papier mache to elongate it into the familiar "tear drop" shape of a lute is another option. If using a bowl, you can cut a hole in the plywood face and string the instrument with elastic bands. You might even get a tune out of the thing with a little practice.
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
	IP Logged

Joan54 Celebrity Joined: 10/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Posted: 5/31/06 at 11:06am
	I was thinking of stringing it with real guitar strings...it should sound terrible which, being a comedy, is perfect. I like the elastic bands even better.....maybe we can get them to break.
	"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 6/01/06 at 5:03am
	Beaut idea Topper! Now I come to think of it I?m sure I have come across, tear drop shape wooden fruit bowls in the Charity shops, while searching for props. This would certainly solve the problem & also certain to fix inflation as well! As suggested it would make a good sound box with Joans clue of putting strings on it! That takes me back to the age of the 'Skiffle' groups. With a broom handle & a string attached to a tea chest, as a Double Base.
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

Joan54 Celebrity Joined: 10/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Posted: 6/01/06 at 1:17pm
	At rehearsal last night I discussed my ideas for the lute with the director and he suggested that if the lute proves to be too difficult we could substitute a small hand harp....easier to build. I am going to look for the salad bowl and give it a few weeks and if nothing happens my way I'll tack together a harp......will keep you posted. By the way my pig is going great. He has a solid foam body...wrapped in batting and fabric and painted to look roasted. The legs are attached with velcro which makes a great ripping sound so that Petruchio can tear the legs off of the pig and beat his servants with them. The most fun is hearing my daughter explain to someone on the phone, "mom is busy..she's painting her pig right now."
	"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 6/02/06 at 1:01am
	Add some pipes & a bit of percussion - you could do an Interlude Joan! "Brush up your shakespeare" comes to mind. But what would work well, is to chuck on a dog act to music & make it more authentic!
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

Joan54 Celebrity Joined: 10/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Posted: 6/02/06 at 12:02pm
	Oh Please....don't curse me with a dog act......we have our hands full just with the cast and crew....they broke the table last night (this is a very physical production) and thought it was hilarious. The last thing I need is a little yapping dog in the wings....
	"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"
	IP Logged

Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 6/02/06 at 12:23pm
	At least when a dog is "chewing the scenery" it's acting naturally.
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
	IP Logged

Topic: lute( Topic Closed)
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