wall mtd stuffed fish puppets...?
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2312
Printed Date: 10/30/25 at 11:45pm
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Topic: wall mtd stuffed fish puppets...?
Posted By: Jim_L
Subject: wall mtd stuffed fish puppets...?
Date Posted: 3/22/07 at 12:13pm
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Anyone have plans for such a thing? I've been wracking my brains (and the net) to come up with a decent way to construct 2 wall mounted fish puppets (about 2.5' long) for my tavern play (see some set construction pics: http://home.comcast.net/~castle.walls/tavern/set.html - http://home.comcast.net/~castle.walls/tavern/set.html ).
I'm hoping to put a fish on the wall above the fireplace and another behind the bar on the right-side angled wall that will be controlled by actors. These fish will sing along during a song but I can't figure out how to build the darn things!
The few things on the net are simple 'kiddie' designs. I might have to resort to just large fishheads but would rather have a full sideways body and also make the tails flap too (using a stick though the wall.
Suggestions for material? I'm thinking that white plastic 'canvas' stuff for the upper & lower mouth 'plates' and I've no idea for the body material. Something slightly heavier than typical cloth (something almost foamy?) that will hold a shape? I've no idea about such things. I've got a basic dwg/idea on the sites 'tech' page, but that's about it.
All help/advice is appreciated.
-Jim
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Replies:
Posted By: MikeO
Date Posted: 3/22/07 at 5:21pm
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How about starting out with a "Big Mouth Billy Bass" and converting it to your needs? ------------- I'd rather act, but they found out I can do tech & sets!! |
Posted By: EddyZ
Date Posted: 3/22/07 at 8:09pm
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Wal-Mart and most craft stores sell thin foam sheets in a variety of
colors. I've used it for a variety of things -- PDA cases, lobster
claws for a halloween costume, stuff like that. I've used various
means over the years to assemble stuff from the foam. Rubber cement
works in some cases, applique yarn in its multitude of colors works
well, too. The stuff is flexible, but can hold its shape, and it holds
up fairly well to abuse. Here's a rough sketch of a pattern for such a beast:  Keep in mind that the scales are only constructed for the front half of the fishy, since he's going to be mounted on a wall. If you choose to use applique yarn or heavy-duty thread to stitch it together, here's how I've done it in the past. Mind you, I'm sucky with a needle and thread:
 Please let us know how your fishies turn out, we'd love to see them! ------------- EddyZ http://webpages.atlanticbb.net/~ezahurak/ - http://webpages.atlanticbb.net/~ezahurak/ http://www.nailsouptheatre.com - www.nailsouptheatre.com/ |
Posted By: Jim_L
Date Posted: 3/22/07 at 9:20pm
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Mike, I'd be hard pressed to get a hand in a Billy-Bass! The hand has got to go in from the side (if a full fish).
Eddy, is that the same kind of foam that some kiddie block puzzles are made of? Almost rubbery?
btw, we started to work on the bedroom floor and an unexpected (for me) visual problem came up with the set. Due to the height & depth of the upper bedroom 'floor', the front row seats (and quite a few behind) cannot see the lower legs of the actors above... we're going to reinforce the front bedroom span (the 4' overhang) with a huge steel spanning plate. It doesn't look that high from the floor but up above looking down... well, if the 4 girls that are to be up there refuse to be there... I'm in a bit of trouble. I was up there tonight and jumped up and down on it and my 220lbs. barely made the thing move so that's a good sign. But I'm not afraid of heights (I'm afraid of the landing tho'...;>). ------------- 
http://home.comcast.net/~castle.walls/tavern/ |
Posted By: EddyZ
Date Posted: 3/22/07 at 9:46pm
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Jim, yeah, that's the stuff. Foam rubber sheets, maybe 1/16 - 1/8 inch thick. Regarding your sightline issue, if your stage plots are accurate, I see two possible solutions: 1. Cut the roof back about 3 or 4 feet. This should improve the sightline, still look like a roof, and leave your actors with plenty of room. 2. move the *entire* second level back 4 feet to the backwall. You'll improve your sightline and you don't really loose your crossover space behind. *sigh* Wish I could get four women in my bedroom. Ah well. ------------- EddyZ http://webpages.atlanticbb.net/~ezahurak/ - http://webpages.atlanticbb.net/~ezahurak/ http://www.nailsouptheatre.com - www.nailsouptheatre.com/ |
Posted By: Jim_L
Date Posted: 3/23/07 at 12:38pm
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EddyZ, I posted 2 more pics at the bottom of the page: http://home.comcast.net/~castle.walls/tavern/set.html - http://home.comcast.net/~castle.walls/tavern/set.html
I'd cut the roof back (which is the ceiling of the main tavern room and the floor of the upper bedroom) but that doesn't leave enough space above in the bedroom for 4 girls (it's only 12'x12' plus a bed).
As you can (hopefully) see in the pics, the upper floor is cantelivered and tied into the back wall. That's the only way to get an overhang without additional support posts which would block the actors below.
I picked up a bunch of those 'foam' sheets and will attempt to put together a fish this weekend (stick myself full of holes more likely...)
There's more construction scheduled for this Saturday (day 3) which we hope to get the upper floor done and the stairwell & front door put in. -------------
http://home.comcast.net/~castle.walls/tavern/ |
Posted By: Jim_L
Date Posted: 3/24/07 at 7:51pm
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Posted some preliminary fish puppet assembly pics here: http://home.comcast.net/~castle.walls/tavern/fish.html - http://home.comcast.net/~castle.walls/tavern/fish.html
more stage assembly pics here: http://home.comcast.net/~castle.walls/tavern/set2.html - http://home.comcast.net/~castle.walls/tavern/set2.html -------------
http://home.comcast.net/~castle.walls/tavern/ |
Posted By: EddyZ
Date Posted: 3/24/07 at 8:39pm
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Good start on the fish! I still think you should cut the upstairs back some -- 10x12 or 8x12 is more than enough for 4 people and bed. Heck, you can stage entire shows in that little space. ;) ------------- EddyZ http://webpages.atlanticbb.net/~ezahurak/ - http://webpages.atlanticbb.net/~ezahurak/ http://www.nailsouptheatre.com - www.nailsouptheatre.com/ |
Posted By: Jim_L
Date Posted: 3/24/07 at 10:03pm
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Boy, I wish I was a black box guy at this point!
The director is happy (and god - with a little 'g' - so not to offend...;>) with the platform, so I'm happy... the bed going up there will take up 4x8' so it'll leave just 8x12' of space of which the actors (girls) will not be allowed to go nearer the edge by a foot. So the upper bedroom floor is actually 6x10'... 4 girls - not much space...
We're more concerned now with the 'rear' wall's garden door and the 6 front corner seats (stage right side in the audience) it will block the view of...
As for the fish, a work in progress... I hope that if it turns out ok, that I'll be able to 'magic-marker' it to believable color specs... -------------
http://home.comcast.net/~castle.walls/tavern/ |