Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup: Beauty and the Beast Invention

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Beauty and the Beast Invention

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Forum Discription: For how-to's and where-can-I-find
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3605
Printed Date: 6/14/25 at 12:05am
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Topic: Beauty and the Beast Invention

Posted By: Tammy Breitman
Subject: Beauty and the Beast Invention
Date Posted: 11/17/08 at 10:39pm

I would appreciate any info/creative ideas on how to construct Maurice's invention for my production of Beauty.... in Feb. '09.

TBreitman

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Tammy B.

Replies:

Posted By: mark_j
Date Posted: 11/18/08 at 11:34am

We constructed a cart on wheels using 3 2x3 platforms stacked on 2x4s in the corners. We covered the lower pair with luan to make a boiler/firebox. You could probably use base from one of those battery operated fiber optic xmas trees to make a glow that changes color. We used something similar for the rose. Dress the upper section with dryer piping and gizmos. You can put a drawer somewhere if you want the device to produce an object like a comb, match, toothpick, etc.

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Posted By: vickifrank
Date Posted: 11/18/08 at 3:50pm

I like the cart that Mark mentioned. It would be cool to have the device puff smoke, make grinding sounds, whistles, groans and hums before a ding! when the object pops out--maybe the object might be a bouncey ball that shoots out. Other fun objects to produce might be Maurice-excentric, like bubble gum, sling shot, popcorn, paper airplane, loaf of bread, pizza, an egg, extruded playdoh, or go for the laugh and produce a cell phone (worthless crazy old Maurice with his useless inventions!). How about it produces a beautiful bust or doll of Belle? It might be a gag to have it produce something different every night.

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Posted By: startingout
Date Posted: 1/12/09 at 11:28am

We did this

Plastic 55 gal drum on a platform with a coffee can on it with water and some dry ice in (coffee can) The drum we cut holes 5/8 cut in it and a slot (in the drum)We put a small kid in ours with flash light (LIGHT BEAMS) and fun stuff to slide out of the slot

Good luck

Posted By: Spectrum
Date Posted: 1/12/09 at 12:01pm

If I'm not mistaken, isn't the "invention" supposed to be a wood chopping machine? I guess ANY "Rube Goldberg" contraption that animates the production of a "thing" would work, though. As I have often said, "The audience doesn't have a script in their laps." It might be fun here to list all the "things" such an invention could produce or do. I keep envisioning Maurice putting a log into the machine and with a good bit of whirring and chugging (and wood shavings flying everywhere), at the grand finale "DING," out pops a toothpick, which he proudly demonstrates by picking his teeth. Any more ideas?

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Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.