Set Design and Construction: Wizard of Oz Help

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Wizard of Oz Help

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=2445
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 10:48pm
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Topic: Wizard of Oz Help

Posted By: Debflo
Subject: Wizard of Oz Help
Date Posted: 6/06/07 at 8:03pm

Hello all! I just found this site and I think its amazing! I am really in need of some help. I am directing a childrens version of the Wizard of Oz (the straight play, not the musical) and I am trying to figure out how to do the beginning where the witch's feet dissapear. My theatre is tiny (actually in an old store front) and I have no wing space at all (so just having someone lie down isn't an option) I would really like to have the legs roll back like they did in the movie, but I am at a loss on this one. Any ideas?

Actually while we are at it - any ideas on how to make the Wizard appear as a floating ball of light?

Ok, those are my questions. I really appreciate any help!

Deb

Replies:

Posted By: neilfortin
Date Posted: 6/07/07 at 8:24am

A couple thoughts on the feet...Remember as a child you had those paper party blowers that you blew into and the paper tube unrolled and extended out beyond the mouthpiece. What if you made something similar to that except much bigger? You kept the air supply blowing into the feet/legs and when you needed them to roll back up you simply deflated them? Another idea comes from our production of A Christmas Carol, with the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come we made the finger point on a huge puppet by threading elastic through some pvc pipe holding the jointed sections of pipe taut. When the elastic was pulled the finer looked clenched but when the elastic was let go the finger shot out as if pointing. With the feet you would have to have the two feet with the taut elastic and when needed the elastic could be pulled and the feet would roll up.

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Community Theater makes us smile

Posted By: TimW
Date Posted: 6/07/07 at 9:05am

I had the same thoughts 'neilfortin'.

What comes to my mind for the Wizard,

look for a small, plastic ball (craft stores etc.) and place a small lightbulb

(3 volt probably) inside the ball. If the ball is light enough, you can

suspend it with the wire needed to put power to the lightbulb.

Then slowly lower it from above and turn on the light.

Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 6/07/07 at 9:06am

A production I did years ago simply stuffed some long, striped socks with crumpled newspapers, placed the shoes on them and set them under the front porch of Dorothy's house during the "tornado" scene change. (Dorothy's house was built on a wagon with swivel casters -- stagehands actually spun the house as it travelled from Stage Right to Stage Left)

When it came time for the witch's feet to disappear -- another stagehand (offstage actor) simply reached under the house from behind and slowly pulled them off, under the porch.

I'm not sure what the sight-lines at your theater are like, but remember, the effect happens in less than 20 seconds and occurs ON THE FLOOR.

Don't waste spending a lot of time, effort and money for a quick effect that might be visually blocked from anybody sitting two rows back.

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

Posted By: Debflo
Date Posted: 6/07/07 at 11:33am

Wow those are all really good points. I like the idea of the PVC pipe for the legs. However topper makes a good point too. I need to check the sight lines to make sure I don't spend all this money on an effect that no one will see. Unfortunately, Topper's idea of simply stuffing the legs wouldn't work due to the way our stage is built.

Tim - the idea for the wizard is perfect!! Thank you!!

I love this site, such a great way to get help! Thank you all!