need help with set shifts
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Directing
Forum Discription: For questions about handling shows, actors, crew, board members, children ...or do we repeat ourselves?
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3095
Printed Date: 10/31/25 at 12:43pm
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Topic: need help with set shifts
Posted By: Kim L.
Subject: need help with set shifts
Date Posted: 4/03/08 at 8:38am
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Hello,
I am the technical director for a high school production of Pride and Prejudice. B/c of the nature and length of this story, the play takes place in a variety of settings, which are quickly moved to for not very long durations. The script calls for "set shifts" instead of scene changes. All set shifts take place on a blacked out stage with the curtains open. Changing settings includes moving furniture around on a boxed set. The original playwright called for the actors to move the furniture around for set shifts. We originally planned to follow this idea. However, we are finding that it is becoming difficult to expect high school students to remember lines, blocking, ball dance choreography as well as set shifts. At the same time, I have a crew (backstage class) with kids who will be standing around in the wings handing furniture to actors but not much else. My question is this...I would prefer to use my crew members/stagehands to move furniture on the stage for set shifts. Would it be appropriate to have this done by the stagehands on a blacked out stage? The kids would not be in costume but would be wearing black. Do you think the audience would get distracted by this? Thank you, Kim ------------- Kim |
Replies:
Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 4/03/08 at 8:45am
| I don't see a problem as long as it's organized. |
Posted By: B-M-D
Date Posted: 4/03/08 at 10:15am
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First off there's a reason the playwright wanted to do the changes the way it was written and should be done that way despite the percieved burden you think the cast will have. You demand more you get more. Demand less and you get less.
Anyway having said that and kept my rant to less than minute I think using stage crew dressed in black is good choice. Even the most rapid of set changes is a break in the action and I would suggest having music of the period for the changes. Music seems to help keep the audience in the moment and will help mitigate the distraction of set changes unless you can somehow incorporate them into the organic flow of the piece.
I'd also cheat a little light for the stage crew and not do it completely in the dark. A couple of strategically placed blue gelled instruments at extremely low intensity will make them virtually invisible to the audience but enough light so they don't kill themselves. ------------- BD 
"Dying is easy, comedy is hard." |
Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 4/03/08 at 4:45pm
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Posted By: B-M-D
Date Posted: 4/03/08 at 7:58pm
Not in so far as in it being an infringement like changing the gender of a character or cutting or adding scenes or dialog, etc. Stage directions including how to do scene changes are generally open to interpretation.
However I think that if the playwright had a specific manner of handling the scene changes then perhaps there was an artistic reason to do it that way and every effort should be made to explore that. Not knowing the script I can't speak with any authority as to whether or not it makes a difference in this case. ------------- BD
"Dying is easy, comedy is hard." |
Posted By: Kim L.
Date Posted: 4/04/08 at 7:29am
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I should clarify that we are sticking with the playwrights original intentions for the set shifts. There is really no other way to do, without compromising the length of the play.
My real question was whether having the crew do it (wearing black) on a blacked out stage would be terribly distracting as compared to actors in costume. I appreciate all of the answers I have received so far. I like the person's comment of, "expect much and receive much." I also like knowing that it does not seem it would matter too much having the crew do it. Thank you! ------------- Kim |
Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 4/05/08 at 10:27pm
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As BDM suggested have a 'brown out' [ which is 'Blue' in fact] using the black ducks & have the attired 'Luvvies' as well on the set.
Like all 'moves' it should be choreographed & look smooth &/or seamless - If it takes more than 20 seconds - It's too long!.
The crew could bring props on & off in one movement, not dither about & go walkabout, then the cast fiddle fart about placing the props. Besides the chase music to cover during the move, the cast can extend into setting during the scene, if their is any hiccups. So it can be executed lickity split! ------------- 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} |