Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup: Break away lyre or guitar

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Break away lyre or guitar

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=3126
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Topic: Break away lyre or guitar

Posted By: damiana
Subject: Break away lyre or guitar
Date Posted: 4/23/08 at 9:09am

Hi,

I am staging a production of The Taming Of The Shrew and am looking for construction suggestions for a lyre or guitar to break owver one of the characters heads.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated:)

Replies:

Posted By: spikesgirl
Date Posted: 4/23/08 at 9:39am

How many are you going to break? That always figured into my cost. If it's just a couple, I'd used a good quality rice paper( that will take paint well and look good until you 'break' it). I would use luan for the sides for a support and If you need to make a bunchthen paper mache the back and front. Don't use too many layer as they can become quite strong. One or two and it will break easily. That would be for a guitar. I'm not sure how you would break a lyre over someone's head as it's just a small harp. Loosely rig the cords and don't pluck them too enthusiastically before hand. Then they should break upon impact.

Charlie

Posted By: neilfortin
Date Posted: 4/23/08 at 4:06pm

I would definitely do a Lyre, it can end up around the person's neck for some physical comedy. With some popping strings and not much actual breakage, that would be visually very funny, and much easier than trying to build a guitar to break on cue. If I were to use a guitar, i think luan would be the best bet!

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Community Theater makes us smile

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 4/23/08 at 9:41pm

Just a point, would it be easier or more appropriate if it were a Lute?

http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/icon/ZiegelerS.jpg - http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/icon/ZiegelerS.jpg

With the longer neck, it would be easier to duff up, a trick breakaway from the sound bowl.

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[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

Posted By: damiana
Date Posted: 4/24/08 at 12:46am

Originally posted by JoeMc

Just a point, would it be easier or more appropriate if it were a Lute?

http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/icon/ZiegelerS.jpg - http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/icon/ZiegelerS.jpg

With the longer neck, it would be easier to duff up, a trick breakaway from the sound bowl.

A lute is also a strong possibility as it is the original item from the script. I was thinking a lyre as a possible option for what I thought may be an easier break with the strings or a guitar if I modernize the show.