Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: a tricky bucket

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lottigam
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Joined: 9/01/09
Location: United States
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Topic: a tricky bucket
Posted: 9/01/09 at 2:18pm

Hi, for next production “The Illusion” I need to find a way to make a bucket able to “hold water”. What it should happen is that after the water drips into the bucket, it can be picked up and turned upside down seeming empty. Does anyone have any suggestion?

Thank you

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Spectrum
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Joined: 4/16/04
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Posted: 9/02/09 at 1:42am

Depending on HOW MUCH water drips into the bucket initially, I can see it done in one of two ways. If there is very little water dripped, the bucket could be lined with an absorbing material, such as a pre-moisened (but not saturated) chamois, or even a thick cloth that doesn't change color when wet (white or black for instance) rubber cemented into the bucket to appear as if the bucket is empty.

If there is a little more liquid involved, you could fabricate one bucket inside a larger bucket with the same top diameter, with the interior bucket being under-sized enough to create a cavity between the two buckets (think how a thermos bottle looks if cut in half). Simply put a few small holes in the bottom of the inside bucket so the liquid readily drains into the cavity between buckets. When it is turned upside down the water remains in the cavity since the drainage holes are now on top. It would probably be wise to make the bucket interior a darker color to disguise the drainage holes.

Good luck with whatever you do!

Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.

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pdavis69
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Posted: 9/02/09 at 9:17am

If the trick is called for by the script, does it give insrtuctions as well?

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

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lottigam
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Posted: 9/02/09 at 9:26am

Thank you very much for the reply and the help!

The trick is not called for by the script, it's a director's idea.

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Gaafa
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Posted: 9/02/09 at 10:27pm

For absorbent matterial, just use a kids stay dry nappy [diaper] something like;-

disposable nappies Online | baby products | home delivery service ...

The inner cavity is a good idea & would work well!

You could use a plastic bucket with a bowl, stuck inside. Put a hole in the centre bowl for water to drain. It would be better if the bowl & bucket were the same colour & the bowl fits the inside diameter of the bucket.

Or to add to the gag, just use a stay dry nappy, spread in the bottom of the bucket. When the bucket is tipped over the head of the actor, he/she is left wearing the nappy on the head, after they remove the bucket!

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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KEB54
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Joined: 7/24/08
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Posted: 9/03/09 at 3:55pm

How about a bucket without a bottom? Turn the bucket over in a manner that the audience never sees the bottom.

KEB

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neilfortin
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Joined: 11/20/06
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Posted: 9/04/09 at 10:29am

There is a chemical, its whats in those absorbing diapers that you can buy. Its non-caustic and non-toxic. It will absorb any water up to ten times its weight and will adhere to the bottom of your bucket. When you want to remove it it will be like removing a jello mold from the bottom of the bucket.

Take a look here

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/00000057

Community Theater makes us smile

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lottigam
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 9/01/09
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2

Posted: 10/09/09 at 2:09pm

Thank you all very much for the suggestions. However the director a couple of weeks ago decided to cut the "magic" effect, so I did not get to make the tricky bucket!

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

Author	Message
lottigam Walk-On Joined: 9/01/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Topic: a tricky bucket Posted: 9/01/09 at 2:18pm
	Hi, for next production “The Illusion” I need to find a way to make a bucket able to “hold water”. What it should happen is that after the water drips into the bucket, it can be picked up and turned upside down seeming empty. Does anyone have any suggestion? Thank you

	IP Logged

Spectrum Celebrity Joined: 4/16/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 176	Posted: 9/02/09 at 1:42am
	Depending on HOW MUCH water drips into the bucket initially, I can see it done in one of two ways. If there is very little water dripped, the bucket could be lined with an absorbing material, such as a pre-moisened (but not saturated) chamois, or even a thick cloth that doesn't change color when wet (white or black for instance) rubber cemented into the bucket to appear as if the bucket is empty. If there is a little more liquid involved, you could fabricate one bucket inside a larger bucket with the same top diameter, with the interior bucket being under-sized enough to create a cavity between the two buckets (think how a thermos bottle looks if cut in half). Simply put a few small holes in the bottom of the inside bucket so the liquid readily drains into the cavity between buckets. When it is turned upside down the water remains in the cavity since the drainage holes are now on top. It would probably be wise to make the bucket interior a darker color to disguise the drainage holes. Good luck with whatever you do!
	Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
	IP Logged

pdavis69 Celebrity Joined: 3/26/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 437	Posted: 9/02/09 at 9:17am
	If the trick is called for by the script, does it give insrtuctions as well?
	Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse
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lottigam Walk-On Joined: 9/01/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Posted: 9/02/09 at 9:26am
	Thank you very much for the reply and the help! The trick is not called for by the script, it's a director's idea.
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 9/02/09 at 10:27pm
	For absorbent matterial, just use a kids stay dry nappy [diaper] something like;- disposable nappies Online \| baby products \| home delivery service ... The inner cavity is a good idea & would work well! You could use a plastic bucket with a bowl, stuck inside. Put a hole in the centre bowl for water to drain. It would be better if the bowl & bucket were the same colour & the bowl fits the inside diameter of the bucket. Or to add to the gag, just use a stay dry nappy, spread in the bottom of the bucket. When the bucket is tipped over the head of the actor, he/she is left wearing the nappy on the head, after they remove the bucket!
	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

KEB54 Celebrity Joined: 7/24/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 227	Posted: 9/03/09 at 3:55pm
	How about a bucket without a bottom? Turn the bucket over in a manner that the audience never sees the bottom.
	KEB
	IP Logged

neilfortin Celebrity Joined: 11/20/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 210	Posted: 9/04/09 at 10:29am
	There is a chemical, its whats in those absorbing diapers that you can buy. Its non-caustic and non-toxic. It will absorb any water up to ten times its weight and will adhere to the bottom of your bucket. When you want to remove it it will be like removing a jello mold from the bottom of the bucket. Take a look here http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/00000057
	Community Theater makes us smile
	IP Logged

lottigam Walk-On Joined: 9/01/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Posted: 10/09/09 at 2:09pm
	Thank you all very much for the suggestions. However the director a couple of weeks ago decided to cut the "magic" effect, so I did not get to make the tricky bucket!
	IP Logged

Topic: a tricky bucket( Topic Closed)