Set Design and Construction: How to build a collapsing set piece?

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How to build a collapsing set piece?

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Set Design and Construction
Forum Discription: Post your questions or suggestions about designing or building a set here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2343
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 9:50pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: How to build a collapsing set piece?

Posted By: Movement
Subject: How to build a collapsing set piece?
Date Posted: 4/10/07 at 3:35pm

I am doing a 3 Little Pigs fractured fairytale this summer with youth on a shoestring budget. We need the pig’s beach shack to collapse when the wolf blows it down. Any suggestions on what I should make the shack out of to make it look like it breaks apart and how do I build it? We didn’t just want to float a flat. We are doing several performances and would need to reset the shack for the next show. Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

Replies:

Posted By: EddyZ
Date Posted: 4/10/07 at 7:39pm

Make it out of people. Just like Soylent Green!

I'm half serious. I'm assuming the "walls" will be some lightweight frame with straw affixed to it somehow. Just make 2-4 (Depending on how you plan to set the house walls, all separate, with some hand-holds on the inside. Get 2-4 stagehands to stand inside the house and "hold" the walls in place. When the wolf huffs and puffs, you can have the housefolk do a little "straw wall ballet" or something to blow the house off stage.

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EddyZ
http://webpages.atlanticbb.net/~ezahurak/ - http://webpages.atlanticbb.net/~ezahurak/
http://www.nailsouptheatre.com - www.nailsouptheatre.com/

Posted By: Kathy S
Date Posted: 4/10/07 at 9:43pm

Or, to be a little more literal, do just as EddyZ says and "make it out of people"! You could cast some kids to play the "house". It would get more kids in the show and the price is right. And anybody can act like a pig...but a straw house? That takes real acting!

OK, now that I re-read EddyZ's answer I see that I am essentially saying the same thing ... just a slightly different way.

Posted By: timokay
Date Posted: 4/13/07 at 9:52pm

Do you have any large cardboard boxes? My wifes preschool did a three little pigs where the kids had these large cardboard houses for the pigs.
They just split the boxes up the corners, and held them together with tapes "tabs". When the wolf blew, the kids just pushed on the walls, and they fell.

The houses were painted really well, and looked great.

Posted By: msbalter
Date Posted: 4/14/07 at 11:33am

I have to build a replica of a piece of the Berlin Wall that has to slowly crumble apart.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Thank You!

Posted By: suzecue1
Date Posted: 4/14/07 at 3:33pm

We did this a few years ago in our (low/no budget) Children's workshop. We used a refrigerator box (or any other large appliance). We cut out windows, and a door, and we had the kids glue straw on it. It can be flown out, or just tipped over and pull off, by the "wind".

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Sue
*****
So many hats.....so few heads!

Posted By: eagle10
Date Posted: 4/16/07 at 5:00am

I would suggest using card board boxes or shoe boxes with foam board stuck to it and then a wall pattern painted or sprayed on them to make them have a texture. But as someone mentioned using large card board boxes would be easier.

I think there are these foam puzzle tiles that kids use to play on and some kindergarten use for flooring. You could build a box out of that easily and it could be ripped apart or made to collapse without injuring anyone and it could be rebuild easily. Like the ones that are shown here: www.greatmats.com/images/foam/abc123.jpg