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MakingPropsforCommunityTheatreRevisedJune2015
ByJimScott1711HabwoodLaneHenricoVA23238
Communitytheatrereliesonvolunteers,andmanyofthejobsthatneedtobedonedon'trequiredramatictraining.Forthesejobs,what'simportantisexperienceasanaudiencemember.Youneedtoknowhowaplaylookstotheaudience-whattheynotice,andwhattheydon'tnotice.InthepastnineyearsI'veprovidedpropsforanumberofplays.BeforethatIhadneverevenbeenbackstageatatheatre.WhatfollowsarebriefdescriptionsofsomeofthemoreinterestingpropsI'vebeencalledupontosupply.Perhapsyou'llbeencouragedtotryyourhandatpropsincommunitytheatre.Allittakesiseagerness,thewillingnesstousewhateverskillsyoualreadyhave,andalittleproblem-solvingcreativity.Allopinionsexpressedhereinaremyown,andnotthoseofanytheatreoranyotherperson.Technically,apropisanythingonstagethatanactortouches,otherthanthesetorcostumes.Asyou'llseelater,someitemsfallintoagrayarea,suchasalamp,whichisusuallyconsideredpartoftheset,orapocket-watch,whichmightbetreatedasacostumeitem.Propsareacquiredinseveralways:• Thetheatremayalreadyhavewhat'sneeded,fromapreviousplay.• Thepropmightbescroungedfromafriend,arelative,acastmember,abusiness,or
anothertheatre.• Itmighthavetobemadebythepropsdesigner(whotherebyearnsthetitle).• Asalastresort,itmighthavetobepurchased,preferablyatathriftstore.Inthefollowingexamplesfrom21playsatfiveRichmondareacommunitytheatres,Iemphasizemostlypropsthathadtobemade.They'regroupedbyplay,chronologically.Asyouread,trytokeepacommunitytheatreperspective.Asalariedpropsdesignerforalargeprofessionaltheatreislikelytohaveaccesstoaprofessionalworkshopandasizeablebudget.Theexamplespresentedherearefromlow-budgetcommunitytheatre,wheretheprocessisarguablymorefun.
Fools-February2-12,2006InFebruary2006,Iactedinmyfirststageplay.ItwasNeilSimon'scomedyFools1,aboutalittleRussianvillagewhoseinhabitantswereunderacurseoffoolishness.Thevenuewasthenewly-openedJewishFamilyTheatreinRichmond'sJewishCommunityCenter.IhadasmallpartasMishkin,thepostman.Inonescene,Ideliveredwhatthescriptdescribedas"anurgentletter".Somebodygavemeapieceofpaperoralittlewhiteenvelopetouse.Ithoughtitmightbebetterforacomicmailmantohaveahumorous-lookinglettertodeliver.AthomeIfoundalarger-than-normalenvelope,manila-colored.IfoundanimageofanoldRussianpostagestamp,printeditlarger-than-lifeonmycomputer,andglueditontotheenvelope.Insteadofanaddressontheenvelope,IprintedCyrilliccharactersthatmightlookliketheyspelled"URGENT"fromadistance,andgluedthatontheenvelopeaswell.Thiswasthe"urgentletter"Ideliveredonstage.Itwasmyfirstprop.
1DirectedbySheryleCriswell
TheDiaryofAnneFrank-May11-21,2006ThefirstplayforwhichIwasactuallyinchargeofpropswasTheDiaryofAnneFrank2,againattheJewishFamilyTheatre.Thiswasmyfirstexperiencewithfoodprops.Besidesthemealsthatthefamilyateintheirhideawayattic,therewasasceneinwhichAnne'soldersisterMargotbecomesangryandbeginsthrowingpotatoes.Ihadtokeepthestagecrewsuppliedwithenoughpotatoesforeachperformance.Aftertheshow,potatopieceshadtobefoundandremovedfromthestage.Butthereweremoreinterestingprops.Inonescene,AnnegivesMargotacrosswordpuzzlebookasaChristmaspresent.SincetheFrankswereDutch,wedidn'twantabookwithEnglishonthecover,soIhadtomakeonewithaDutchcover.Usingcomputergraphics(Photoshop),IdesignedacoverwithacrossworddiagramandtheDutchwordsfor"cross","word",and"puzzle":namely,"kruis","woord",and"raadsel".
(Inretrospect,IshouldhaveusedtheactualDutchterm"kruiswoordpuzzel".)Iputthistogetherwithablankbackcoverandabout1/4inchofblankpaperinthemiddle,andgluedthespinetoholdittogether.
2AdaptedbyFrancesGoodrichandAlbertHackett,directedbySheryleCriswell
Wealsoneededapackofcigarettes.IfiguredtheycouldhavebeenAmericancigarettes,buttheyneededtobesomethingthatexistedinthe1940s.OntheWebIfoundanimageofapackofOldGoldcigarettes.WithPhotoshop,Iexpandedthisintothesixsurfacesofapackandprinteditasasinglepieceofcardstockthatcouldbefoldedintoapack.IcutarectangularslabofStyrofoamasfiller,wrappedthefoldedcoveraroundit,andfasteneditalltogether.
CrossingDelancey-November1-12,2006CrossingDelancey3attheJewishFamilyTheatrewassetlargelyinabookstore.Iwasabletousecomputergraphicsforseveralitems.Weneededadisplayofseveralcopiesofanewbookonsale,soIdesignedabookcoverandprintedseveralcopiestoputonvariousbooksofthesamesizeandshape.
TherewasalsoaneedforanIDcardforadeliveryman.AlmostanythingshapedlikeanIDcardwouldhaveworked,butIhadsomefundesigninganIDcardwithaphotoofmewhenIwasincollege.Iprinteditoncardstockwiththesameimageonbothsides,andlaminatedit.
3BySusanSandler,directedbyAlanJayCriswell
Inaddition,thescriptcalledforachocolatecake.Itwouldnotbeeaten-itwouldjustbeusedasavisualprop.Sotoavoidspoilage,Imadeafakecake.Thiswasmyfirstventureintomakingafakefoodprop,anditwasbarelyacceptable.Istartedwithacylindricalboxandusedaspatulatospreadonsomefakebrownicing.Ithensprayeditwithaclearglosstomakeitshiny.
LostinYonkers-February1-11,2007LostinYonkers4attheJewishFamilyTheatrewassetinthe1940s.Onepropweneededwasamoviemagazine.Actualmagazinesfromthateraarenotimpossibletofind,butweneededonethatwouldstilllooknew.Evenifwehadfoundsuchanitem,itwouldprobablyhavecostalargefractionofthepropsbudgetavailable.SoImadeone,usingafrontcoverandabackcoverretrievedseparatelyfromtheInternet.
4WrittenbyNeilSimon,directedbySheryleCriswell
TheNightThoreauSpentinJail-September20-October13,2007OneofthestrangestpropsIeverhadtocomeupwithwasforTheNightThoreauSpentinJail5,thefirstoftwoplaysIworkedonatthenewHenleyStreetTheatre.Weneededachickenwearinggloves!(Accordingtothescript,Thoreauputglovesontochickenstokeepthemfromtramplingflowers.)Itwasdeemedacceptablethatthechickencouldbeinanimate;usingalivechickenwouldhavebeenadisasterforsure.However,itwouldneedtolookreasonablyrealistic.Iconsideredtheideaofmakingone,butIhadnoclueastohowtoproceed.Fortunately,theInternetonceagaincametotherescue.Ifoundacompany6thatofferedlife-likemodelsofvariousanimals,andIorderedachickenfor$30.Itwasratherlight-weight,andprobablyhadaStyrofoamcore.Butthefeathersappearedtobereal.Thentherewerethegloves.Wheredoesonefindready-madechickengloves?Thisrequiredahandcraftedsolution.Evenwithmymeagerknowledgeofsewing,Iwasabletocutfourpiecesofbrownfelt,seweachpairtogetherwithcarpetthread,turntheminsideout,andforcethemontothechicken'sfeet.
5WrittenbyJeromeLawrenceandRobertE.Lee,directedbyAlexPrevitera6http://www.thisplaceisazoo.com/
TheSpanishTragedy-January10-February2,2008AlthoughTheSpanishTragedy7attheHenleyStreetTheatrewassetinmoderntimes,weneededminimalisticcrownsfortwoofthecharacters,theKingofSpainandtheviceroy.Technically,crownsarecostumeitems,notprops,buttheyseemedtoomuchtoaskofthecostumedesigner.Crownscanbepurchasedlocally,butthey'regaudyplasticthingssuitableforhighschoolfarces.SoIcreatedacoupleofcrownsthat,althoughtheylookedcrudecloseup,mettherequirementoflookingokayfromadistance.
Thiswasmyfirstforayintometalcraft.Iboughtsomesheetaluminumfromahobbyshop,andapoprivetgunatahardwarestore.Ihadneverusedpoprivetsbefore,soIpracticedonsomescrap.Theactorsgavemetheirheadmeasurements,andImadepatternsonpaper.Icutthealuminumwithtinsnips,drilledholes,andputintherivets.Igluedonsomefakejewels,andputinanarrowpadthatwouldbeinvisiblewhenthecrownwasworn.ThesecondphotoshowstheKingofSpain8incostumebackstage.MorealuminumworkwascalledforwhenImadea"badgeofoffice"forHieronimo9.Icuttheeight-pointed"star"outofaluminum,withextrawidthsoIcouldfoldbackeachoftheedges.Thismadeforcrisp,butnottoosharp,edges,andaddedsomeapparentthickness.ThenIgluedagold-coloreddecorationontothecenterofthestar.
7WrittenbyThomasKyd,directedbyJohn-MichaelMacDonald8PlayedbyKenMoretti9PlayedbyFrankCreasy
Attheendoftheplay,Hieronimocutshistongueout.Thebloodwassimplyacapsuleofediblefakebloodfromthelocalcostumeandpropshop10.Theseveredtongue?SillyPutty.
10PremiereCostumes,3339WCaryStreet
AllMySons-January21-February7,2009IneachperformanceofAllMySons11atChamberlayneActorsTheatre(CAT),asmallappletreegetsknockeddownbythewind,draggedbackstage,anddiscarded.Afriendwholivesonaruralpropertyletmecutdownaweedtreeandtakeithome.Itwasn'tanappletree,butthiswaswinteranditdidn'thaveleavesanyway.Itwasaboutfivefeettall,withatrunkaboutoneinchindiameter,andwithbranchesthatgrewmoreupthanout,soitwouldn'ttakeuptoomuchspaceonthestage.Thesetcrewmadeamechanicalarrangementthatwouldholdthetreeupright,butwouldallowittobe"snappedoffbythewind".Itremainedtoconvertitintoanappletreebyaddingleavesandapples.Itwaseasyenoughtobuyseveralsmalldecorativefakeapplesatacraftstore12andtiethemonwithfloralwire.Fortheleaves,Iboughtarollofgreenducttape.Tomakeeachleaf,Icutaboutsixinchesoffloralwireandaboutfiveinchesofgreenducttape.Iputoneendofthewiredownthemiddleofhalfofthelengthofducttape,thenfoldedthetapeoveronthewiresotheedgesofthetapemet.Ipressedthewholethingflat,thencuttheducttapeintotheshapeofanappleleaf.(Thephotoshowsarealappleleaf.Ithasashapethatwaseasytocutwithscissors.)Imadehundredsofleavesandattachedthemwiththewiretothetreebranches.Thiswasapropthatneededoccasionalmaintenance,becausethetreegotsomeilltreatmentateveryperformance,andsometimesafewleavesandapplesneededtobereattached.
11WrittenbyArthurMiller,directedbySheryleCriswell12Michaels,9856W.BroadStreet
Wealsoneededanewspaper,specificallyfromCincinnatiacoupleofyearsafterWorldWarII.Usingcomputergraphics,Imadeupfournewspaperpages:frontandbackpagesofamainsection,andfrontandbackofasportssection.Ilookedonlinetogetafeelforwhatwasinthenewsthen,andIfoundphotosontheWebtogowiththenewsstories.Ialsodownloadedactualnewspaperadsfromtheperiod.Iputitalltogetherintoadouble-pageformat,24incheswideand22incheshigh,andhaditprintedbyacopyservice13onpaperalittleheavierthannewsprint.Theinsidepagesweresheetsofcurrentnewspapers,nevertobeseen,justtoaddthickness.
13Staples,1530N.ParhamRoad
RadiumGirls-March26-April11,2010RadiumGirls14isaboutanumberofyoungwomenwho,inthe1920s,werehiredtopaintwatchesandinstrumentdialswithradiumpainttomakethenumbersonthedialsglowinthedark.TheproductionatChamberlayneActorsTheatre15presentedanumberofopportunitiesforapropsdesigner.Oneofthegrossestpropsevercreatedwasaspecimenofhumanjawbonethathadbeeneatenawaybycancer(causedbyagirlusingherlipsandtonguetotipherpaintbrushes).
Thefirstproblemwasfindingsomebone.(Icouldhavejustusedsomethingthatlookedlikebone,butnothingcametomind.)MywifeandIarevegetarians,sotherewasnonearoundthehouse.Atagrocerystore,Iaskedabutcherifhehadanyscrapbone.Notwantingtomissasale,hetoldmetobuyapieceofsoupbone.Thissoupbonewasaboutthreeincheslongandthesamedistancewide,andlookedlikeasectionoutofacow'sfemur.Iboiledittomakeitassterileaspossible,andthenconsideredhowtogetasmallerpieceoutofit.Intheend,Ihadtowhackitrepeatedlywithachiselandsmallsledgehammer.Eventuallyalargebutusablepiecesplitoff.Iputitintoapicklejar,usingasuitably-shapedpieceofplastictoholdthebonevertical(moreforthesakeofvisibilitythanbecauseitlookednatural).Ithenaddedweakteatosimulateapreservativefluid,andaddedahand-writtenlabel.ThesecondphotoshowsthedentistDr.Knef16examiningthespecimen.AlsointhecategoryofgrosspropswasanX-rayofacancer-riddenjaw.AdentistwaskindenoughtogivemeanoldX-rayofananonymouspatientwithseriousdentalproblems.IscanneditandaugmenteditwithPhotoshop,thenhaditprintedonatransparencyatacopyshop17.14WrittenbyD.W.Gregory15DirectedbyAmyBerlin16PlayedbyJonathanHardison17Staples,1530N.ParhamRoad
Actually,theareaseatenawaywouldhavebeenblack,notwhite,butsometimestheneedforvisualimpactovercomesscientificaccuracy.Severalnewspaperswereneeded,asinAllMySons:
Thisproductionblurredthelinebetweenpropsandlightingbecausetheactiononstagewasaugmentedwithimagesprojectedontoflatareasjustabovethestage.Iprovidedtheseimagesusingbothstraightphotographyandcomputergraphics.Theyincludednewspaperheadlines,clockfaces,tombstones,andthispictureofanapparentlyradioactivehairbrush.
Iphotographedthebrushataconsignmentstore18whereIsometimesbuyprops.Inthiscase,theywereniceenoughtoletmetakeapicturewithoutbuyinganything.ThenIenhancedtheimageinPhotoshoptomakeitseemtoglow.
18TheAttic,inGaytonCrossingShoppingCenter
TheFiddler'sHouse-January21-February6,2011ThetoughestpropneededforTheFiddler'sHouse19atChamberlayneActorsTheatrewasanIVstandwithIVbagsandtubing.IstartedwiththeassumptionthatI'dbeabletoborrowanactualIVstandfromamedicalfacilitysomewhere,butnosuchluck.Anyway,modernIVstandsarecomplicatedaffairs,withbuilt-inelectronics.Propsusuallyneedtobeassimpleaspossibletoavoidbeingdistracting.Intheend,Ibuiltone.Iusedadiscardedshowercurtainrodasthepole.Ibuiltasimplewoodenbaseandpainteditwhite.Forthehooksatthetop,Isimplybentstrongwireandattacheditnearthetopofthepole.TheIVbagsturnedouttobeeasy.Iwenttoalocaldrugstore20andasked.Thepharmacistgavemetwoout-of-datesalinebagsthatshehappenedtohaveinthebackroom.Inthisproduction,lightingforthisscene21wassuchthattheIVstandwasintheshadows,anditsdetailsdidn'tmatter.
19WrittenanddirectedbySheryleCriswell20WestburyPharmacy,8903ThreeChoptRoad21TheactorsareAkinSmithandDeidreJones.
Almost,Maine-March25-April10,2011Almost,Maine22atChamberlayneActorsTheatrecalledforanumberofbeercans,specificallyBudweiserandNaturalLight.Actualalcoholisn'tallowedonstage,sobeercanswouldhavetohavebeenemptiedandperhapsfilledwithwateroranothernon-alcoholicbeverage.Butthisisn'tanoptionifthecanistobeopenedonstage-theaudiencemusthearthepopandthefizz.Inthatcase,theonlyoptionistouseasodacancoveredwithalabelthatmakesitlooklikeabeercan.IcreatedBudweiserandNaturalLightlabels,startingwithoneactualemptycanofeach.Iusedtinsnipstocutoffthetopsandbottomsofthecans,leavingonlythecylinderpart.ThenIcutthisverticallyalongastripwheretherewasnodesign,andflattenedthecylindertomakeaflatrectangle.(Itwasnecessarytomakesomelittlesnipsalongthetopedge,wherethetopofthecanhadbeen,togetittoflatten.)Iscannedthisaluminumrectangle,thenusedPhotoshoptotouchupthemanylittleflawsintroducedbythephysicalmanipulationofthemetal.AtthispointIhadanimagefileforeachofthetwobeerbrands,readyforprinting.Iprintedcopiesofeachlabelonglossyphotopaper,resultinginareasonablysturdyandshinysurface.Shinyobjectsaregenerallyavoidedonstage,becausethespotlightswouldreflectoffofthem.Butthat'smostlyaproblemonlyforflatobjects.Beercansaren'tflat,andbesides,theyhavetobeshinytolookreal.
Thelabelswerereadytobeappliedtoactualcans,eitheremptyorunopened.Mostcannedbeverageshavesomeprintingonthetaperedpartjustunderthelid,andthecylindricallabelswouldnotcoverthis.SoIusedaflexiblewhiteplastictapetocoverthatpartofthecan.
22WrittenbyJohnCariani,directedbyAmyBerlin
ThenIwrappedthelabelsnugglyaroundthecanandfasteneditwhereit(justbarely)overlapped,usingaflexibleclearplastictape.Usingthismethod,ratherthangluingthelabeltothecan,allowedthelabeltobereusedonanothercanifnecessary.Infact,inAlmost,Maine,severalNaturalLightcansarecrushed.Thelabelswithstoodthisprettywell,deformingwiththecrushedcans,butspringingbacktolifewhenremovedfromthecanslater.Thephotoaboveshows,fromlefttoright,asimulatedBudweisercan,arealBudweisercan,asimulatedNaturalLightcan,andarealNaturalLightcan.
HomeFires-October21-November5,2011HomeFires23atChamberlayneActorsTheatrecalledforamoviemagazine,whichIputtogetherwithPhotoshopusingimagesfromtheWeb.Sincethismagazinewouldhavehighvisibility,Icreatedtheinsideofthecoveraswellastheoutside.
Ifilledtheinsidewithnewspaperpagestrimmedtofit.Anotherpropweneededwasanunbreakable78rpmphotographrecord.(Iwon'tgointowhyitneededtobeunbreakable.)It'seasyenoughtofind78rpmrecordsinthriftshops,
23WrittenbyJackHeifner,directedbyToniCacioppo
buttheyareinherentlyfragile.Thesetdesigner24helpedmeoutbymakingadiskofunbreakableblackvinylofthecorrectdiameterandthickness.Idrilledaholeinthecenterandusedsandpaperwithcircularmovementstosimulatethegrooves,leavingtheusualclearspacesneartheoutsideedgeandoutsidethelabelinthecenter.ThenIgluedontothecenterofeachsidealabelthatIhadcreatedbyscanninganactual78rpmrecordandprintingitonphotopaper.
Thefirstphotoshowsareal78rpmrecordontheright,andthesimulatedoneontheleft.
24LinHeath
WhyTortureIsWrong-November10-December4,2011IwasaskedonshortnoticetodopropsforWhyTortureIsWrong(AndthePeopleWhoLoveThem)25attheFirehouseTheatreProject.Ihadtoscrambleforacoupleofweekstogetitalldone.Thisplaycalledforanumberofstrangeprops.Aballgagwaspurchasedonline.Therewerenumerousweapons-Iwasabletoborrowthesefromanothertheatre26.IsimulatedabottleofMacespraybybuyingalittlepumpspraybottleatacraftshop27andwrappingalabelarounditthatIcreatedwithPhotoshop.
(SeeCatfishMoon,below,toseewhatthebottleitselflookedlike.)Wealsoneededseveredbodypartsforasortoftorturedreamsequencethatturnsoutnottohavereallyhappened.Inotherwords,thecharactersurvivesintact.Igotsomeflesh-coloredclayatthesamecraftshop,akindthatcouldbebakedlightlytohardenitsomewhat.Ipaintedthegorybitswithredpaint.
25WrittenbyChristopherDurang,directedbyBilly-ChristopherMaupin26TheUniversityofRichmond'sDepartmentofTheatreandDance27BenFranklin,nowA.C.Moore,8524PattersonAvenue
CatfishMoon-May18-June3,2012Aseachnewplayseemstodo,CatfishMoon28atChamberlayneActorsTheatreledtonewexperiencesinprovidingprops.Butitalsoreusedoldideas.WeusedtheBudweiserbeercanlabels(seeAlmost,Maine)again.Andforabottleof"Off"bugspray,IusedthesametypeofpumpspraybottlethatwasneededinWhyTortureIsWrong,butwithadifferentlabelthistime.
Inonescene,acharactergetsafishhookstuckinhisfinger.Imadeadeviceoutofbentwire,tape,andredpaint,thatcouldbeeasilyslippedonandoffofafinger.
Inanotherscene,apieceofplywoodisdiscovered.Itturnsouttobeahandmade"NoSwimming"signthatappearstohavelainonthegroundforyears.Togetthispropstarted,thesetdesigner29providedmewithapieceofplywoodoftheappropriatesizeandshape.I
28WrittenbyLaddySartin,directedbyLaurieFollmer29LinHeath
usedasmallsledgehammertobeatuptheedges.ThenIusedapaintbrushtoapplyasolutionthatmakeswoodlookoldandgray-steelwoolmarinatedinvinegarovernight.
Afterlettingitdry,Ihand-paintedtheletters"NOSWIMMING"onit.ThepropthatIhadthemostdifficultywithwasanurnforcrematedremains.Idon'thavetheskillstocreatesuchathing,soIwouldhavetoborroworbuyone.Logically,noonewasgoingtolendusacremationurn!Ifoundthattheonlywaytobuysuchanurnwouldbetobuyoneretail;andeventhecheapestonesweretooexpensiveforourbudget.Inacaselikethis,Itrytokeeptheideaofwhatwe'relookingforinthebackofmymindasIgothroughtheday,especiallyinstores.OnedayasIwasbrowsingalocalconsignmentstore30,Ispottedseveralexamplesofwhatlookedlikecremationurns-alittlesmaller,buttherightshape!Theyturnedouttobegingerjars!Isentphotosofthoseavailabletothedirector,andwedecidedtogettheblackone.
30TheAttic,inGaytonCrossingShoppingCenter
The13thofParis-January18-February3,2013The13thofParis31wasoneofthemostcaptivatingplaysI'veworkedon.ItwasproducedatCATTheatre,previouslyknownasChamberlayneActorsTheatre.Theonepropthatsymbolizedit,atleastforme,wasthe"brightorangewateringcan".Althoughthescriptcallsforjustone,weneededtwoforlogisticalreasons.Wateringcansareavailablewidely,butnottheiconickind,metalwithaflaredsprinklinghead.Ifinallyfoundtwoatanartsandcraftstore32andeagerlysnatchedthemup.Theywerebaregalvanizedmetal,andintendedmorefordecorationthanforutility.
Icaulkedtheirinsideseamstoavoidleakingwhatlittlewaterwewouldactuallyuseinthem.AllthebrightorangespraypaintIcouldfindsaid"notforuseongalvanizedmetal",butIuseditanyway,withgoodresults33.
31WrittenbyMaxSmart,directedbyAmyBerlin32A.C.Moore,8524PattersonAvenue33ThewateringcansceneshowsAmberDaleBoiceasAnnie,andAlexIreysasVincent.
PlayOn!-May17-June2,2013PlayOn!34is,asitsnameimplies,aplaywithinaplay.ItwasproducedatCATTheatre.Thefeaturedpropwasa"sparklingnecklace"withalargediamond-typecentralstone.Ihadnoticedaperfectfakestone,abouttwoincheslong,forsaleatanotherartsandcraftstore35.
Beyondthat,Ihadnoideahowtomakeanecklace,exceptthatIthoughtsomekindofstringwouldbeinvolved.Fortunately,mynewpropssidekickatthetime,SandySiler,isawhizatstringingnecklaces.Shecameupwithadandy.
Infact,shehadtomakeseveralcopies,allreinforcedtowithstandroughtreatment.
34WrittenbyRickAbbot,directedbyAmberdePass35Michaels,9856W.BroadStreet
TheOddCouple(FemaleVersion)-October25-November9,2013TheOddCouple(FemaleVersion)36,asproducedatCATTheatre,wasthemostdifficultplayI'veeverhadtodopropsfor.Onereasonisthatitcalledforacoffeecuptobethrownandsmashedinonescene,anddittoforaplateinanotherscene.Thus,wehadtohaveasupplyofbreakablecupsanddishessufficientforeveryperformanceplusanumberofrehearsals.Certainlybreakablepropdishescanbepurchased,butthatwouldhavebeenmuchtooexpensive.Afterresearchingtheprocessformakingbreakablestageglassfromsugar,IdecidedtogowithplasterofParis.Iboughtsomeplasterinpowderformandmixedupabatch.Itwasaliquid,andwouldrequiresomekindofmoldtocreateitsshapewhileitdried.Fortheplate,Ipouredtheliquidplasterintoalargeshallowdish.Whentheplasterhardened,itwasflatontop,curvedonthebottom,thickinthemiddleandalmostsharpattheoutsideedge.Isandedtheedgetomakeitlesssharpandtoevenouttheinevitableirregularities.Forthecup,bytrialanderrorIcameupwithawaytopourtheliquidplasterintoalargepapercupandthenpushasmallerpapercupdownintothecenteroftheliquid.Itwashardtokeepthesmallercupinthecenter,sothereweremanyfailuresinwhichtheupperedgeoftheresultingplastercupwastoothinononesideandtoothickontheother.Thehandleonthecoffeecupwasadifferentproblem.Itdidn'tnecessarilyhavetobebreakableitself,soImadethehandlesoutofbakeableclay37andgluedthemon.Ipaintedtheplatesblue,andusedamarkertoputabluestripearoundthetopofeachcup.
36WrittenbyNeilSimon,directedbyMelissaRayford37ThesamekindofclayusedfortheseveredbodypartsinWhyTortureIsWrong
Thewholethingrequiredmanyhoursofworkshoptime.Anothermajorpropwasa"Pure-A-Tron"aircleaner.InathriftshopIfoundaninexpensiveroomhumidifier.Igluedallthepartstogethertomakeitasingleunitthatwouldn'tfallapart,thenpaintedtheclearpartswithsilverpaint.Thefanmotorstillworked,sowecouldplugitinandgetthefannoiseifwewanted.
Butperhapsthemosttroublesomepropofallinthisplaywasthedark,smoulderingroastcapon,whichwastobecarriedinonaplatterwhileemittingsmoke.Mypartnerinprops,SandySiler,madeawonderfulfakeburntcapon,hollowwithanopeningonthesideawayfromtheaudience.Wejusthadtofigureawaytogetsmoketocomeout.Therearemanywaystomakeastagescenegenerallysmoky,butfewerwaystogetsmoketocomefromaspecificspot.Addthefactthatthesourceofthesmokewouldbemovingacrossstage,therestrictionthatwewerenotallowedtouseanythingthatmightproduceanodor,andthefearofsettingoffthetheatresmokealarm-anditcamedowntodryice.Weputalittlehiddenbowlofwaterinsidethefakecapon.Justbeforetheplatterwastobebroughtontostage,thestagecrewwoulddropasmallslabofdryiceintothewater.That
immediatelyproducesquantitiesofwhitecarbondioxidevapor.Themovementofairaroundtheplatterstirsupthevaportoproducethevisualeffectofsmoke38.
Thereasonthiswassuchadifficultprop,asidefromthelongthoughtprocessthatbroughtustousingdryice,wastherequirementofhavingasupplyofdryiceavailableforeachperformance.Dryicewillnotlastmorethanafewdaysinanycooler,nomatterhowmuchinsulationyouadd.Andforgetaboutputtingitintoarefrigeratorfreezer,whichis109degreeswarmerthandryice.Consequently,Ihadtoobtaindryiceandbringittothetheatreonceortwiceeveryweek.Otherinterestingpropsinthisplayincludedspoiledsandwiches,browncoastersthat"looklikebigchocolatemints",andspraycanofroomdeodorizer:
Again,becausewedidn'twanttoproduceanyodororrealsmoke,theroomdeodorizerwasacanofcompressedair39(intendedforcleaningequipmentsuchascomputerkeyboards)withafakelabel.
38TheactorsareAlanGropperandDonnaMarieMiller.39FromStaples,1530N.ParhamRoad
LeavingIowa-May23-June8,2014LeavingIowa40atCATTheatreusednumerousprops.Fortunately,manyofthemcouldbeborrowed,orweresimpletomake.Weneededacoupleofsmallishgrocerycarts41,aViewMasterwithdisks42,aunicycle43,andmanymore.Thescriptcalledfora"humongous,cement-block-size"KrispieTreat,notnecessarilyedible.MyattempttomakeonebypaintingalargepieceofStyrofoamlookedquitefake:
Intheend,IthinkSandySilermadeactualKrispieTreats,eitheronebigoneorseveralsmallonesfastenedtogether,andthenshellackeditsoitwouldn'tbesticky.(Sandywasinchargeofsetdressingforthisproduction,buthelpedwiththispropbecauseshehadtheexpertiserequired.)Probablythestrangestpropforthisplaywasawindchimemadefrom"petrifiedApachetoenails",forsaleinanAmishfleamarket.Tomakethetoenails,Icutoblongshapesfromasheetofthin,flexibletranslucentplasticleftoverfromafoodcontainer.IdabbedthesewithGoopbrandadhesiveandletitdry,foranirregularandgenerallygrosslook.ThenIwasabletoassembleawindchimeusingbitsofwood,cord,andalengthofaluminumtubing.Ametalnuthunginthemiddleofthecordthatwentthroughthealuminumtube,toprovidetheactualchimesound.
40WrittenbyTimClue&SpikeManton,directedbyAmyBerlin41BorrowedfromA.C.Moore,8524PattersonAvenue42LentbySandySiler43BorrowedfromafriendbySandySiler
PumpBoysandDinettes-July11-27,2014PumpBoysandDinettes44,producedbytheHenricoTheatreCompanyatTheCulturalArtsCenteratGlenAllen,hadanautomechanicshopinteriorononehalfofthestage,andtheinteriorofadinerontheother.Consequently,therewerenumerousonstageitemstoconjurethefeelingofautorepairormealpreparation.Manyofthesewereprovidedbythesetdesignerandcrew,partlybecauseanobjectthatisn'thandledbyanactorisn'ttechnicallyaprop,butmostlybecausethedifferentspecialtiesonthecrewcooperativelycrosseachother'sboundaries.Imadefakefanbeltsforawallrack(setdecor),becauseIhadasupplyofblackrubbertubing.Thescriptcalledforaworking(!)Polaroidcamera;whichclearlywouldhavetobeacquired,notmade.Fortunately,thedirector,AmyPerdue,hadherowncamera.Butwouldfilmstillbeavailableforthisoldtechnology?Theanswerwas"yes".Iwasabletobuyeight-packsofPolaroid600filmlocally45.
Butthepropthatwasthemostfunwasthetwopiesthatthetwodinetteladiesdancedwith.Asageneralrule,whenyouneedtomakeapropanddon'tknowhowtodoit(orevenwhenyouneedtoacquireapropanddon'tknowwheretofindit),Googlethenameofthepropplus"prop"or"fake".Itmighthelptoincludethenameoftheplay.Ididthisaftertryingtomakeafakepiecrustwithsomeleftoverclay;itwasunsuccessfulbecauseitcracked,andwastooheavyanyway.WhenIresearchedfakepiesontheweb,Ifounda
websitethatrecommendedamaterialIhadneverheardof,CrayolaModelMagic46.Althoughit'snotcheap,itworkedverywellforthisapplication,resultinginalightweightflexiblecrust.Icoloredthecrustwithaspraydye47andusedcaulktomakeawhitecreampietopping.Fordetails,seemyarticle"MakingFakePiesforHTC'sJuly2014ProductionofPumpBoysandDinettes"48.
44WrittenbyJohnFoley,MarkHardwick,DebraMonk,CassMorgan,JohnSchimmel,&JimWann;directedbyAmyPerdue45RichmondCamera,Carytown,3128WCaryStreet46FromMichaels,9856W.BroadStreet47TintItbyDesignMaster,alsofromMichaels-thebestcolorforthisapplicationissepia.48jkmscott.net/data/MakingFakePies.pdf
SherlockHolmes:TheFinalAdventure-October24-November8,2014SherlockHolmes:TheFinalAdventureatCATTheatre49washeavywithprops.Themostinvolvedwasthecylinderphonographplusenoughwaxcylinderstoallowforonetobecrushedineachperformance.Iquicklyestablishedthatantiquecylinderphonographscosthundredsofdollarsormore.Clearlynoonewouldlendusone,andwecouldn'taffordtobuyone.Butasaprop,itdidn'tneedtobeoperable;itjustneededtolookright.Itwasafunprojecttoshoparoundincraftstoresandhardwarestores,aswellasmyownaccumulationofoddsandends,andfindpartsthatcouldbeputtogethertomakeafakephonograph.AGoogleimagesearchrevealsthatthereweremanytypesandmodelsofcylinderphonographs,sothepropdidn'tneedtolookexactlylikeanyoneofthem.Imadeawoodenboxandattachedvariousobjectsofmetal,plastic,rubber,andpasteboard.Thefinalconvincingtouchwasarealistic-looking"EdisonStandardPhonograph"label.Ifoundagoodimageofoneonline,printeditonphotographicpaper,cutitout,andapplieditwithdouble-sidedtape.Fordetailsabouthowthephonographwasmade,seemyarticle"MakingaFakeCylinderPhonographasaProp"50.
Withthecylinders,evenmoresothanwiththephonographitself,itwasabsolutelyclearthatwewouldnotbecrushingrealphonographiccylinders.SoIwouldhavetomakethem,enoughforeveryperformanceplusatleastthelastseveralrehearsals.Ieasilyfoundimagesanddimensionsforphonographiccylindersonline,butIdidn'tfindalotofapplicableadviceabouthowtofakethem.SoIbeganexperimenting.ThefirstthingIneededwasasupplyofblackwax.Isearchedtheusualstoresforeitherblackwaxassuch,orforblackwaxdye.(Ithoughtaboutjustusingblackcandles,butIsuspectedthattheymightnotbeblackallthewaythrough.)TheonlysolutionIfoundwasbagsofblackwaxchips,availableatonlyonestore51.Thenafteragreatdealofexperimentation,Icameup
49WrittenbyStevenDietz,directedbyLynnSmith50jkmscott.net/data/MakingAFakeCylinderPhonograph.pdf51TheHobbyLobby,11280WBroadStreet
withamoldconsistingoftwocylinders,oneinsidetheother.Themeltedblackwaxwaspouredbetweentheinnerandoutercylindersandallowedtoharden.Thewholeprocesswasactuallyverydifficult,andthereweremanyfailures.Probablyalloftheresultingwaxcylindershaddefects,butnothingtheaudiencecouldsee.Forthesordiddetails,seemyarticle"MakingFakeWaxCylindersforaFakeCylinderPhonograph"52.Oneotherpropthatprovedinterestingtomakewasabreakfastofscrambledeggsandburnttoast.See"MakingFakeToastandScrambledEggs"53.
52jkmscott.net/data/MakingFakeWaxCylinders.pdf53jkmscott.net/data/MakingFakeToastAndEggs.pdf
Quartet-May22-June6,2015ItwasfairlyeasytoprovidepropsforQuartetatCATTheatre54.TherewasalittledifficultyfindingfourCDWalkmanplayersandfoursetsofheadphones;butasisusualwithtechnologyfromaspecificera,thesewillbehardertofindforfutureproductions.Act2Scene3callsforWilftoopenabottleofstoutanddrinkfromit.CAT(butapparentlynotalltheatres)hasastrictruleagainsttheconsumptionofactualalcoholicbeveragesonstage.Butwewantedtobeabletouseabottleopenertotopthecap,andtohearthepopandfizzsounds.Thestagedirector55informedmeoftheexistenceofbottlecappertools,soIresearchedthemonline,thenIpurchasedanicesturdybottlecapperfromoneofthemanywebsitesthatselltoolsforhomebeer-brewing56.Inaddition(atgreatpersonalsacrifice,IconsumedseveralbottlesofGuinnessstout,savedthebottles,andcleanedthemout.Iwasabletoremovethecapsunbentsotheycouldbereused(althoughnewbottlecapscanbepurchased).Thus,thestagecrewwouldbeabletofillthebottleswithcola(darkandfizzy,likestout),capthebottlestightlytoretainthefizz,andhavethebottlemaketheappropriatesoundswhenopenedonstage.
Therewasoneotherpropthatwasparticularlyrewarding.WeneededfourcopiesofthescorefortheQuartetfromRigoletto.Itwaseasyenoughtofindagoodonlineimageforthecover.Ihadthisprintedonhalfofa12x18"pieceofwhitecardstock,soitcouldbefoldedtomakeastandard-size9x12"score.Iwantedittobeyellow,butthecopyshop57didn'thavecoloredcardstockinthesizeIneeded.SoIusedspraytint58tocolorthepaperwithoutobscuringtheprinting.Fortheinsides,Ijustneededanumberoffolded12x18"sheetsofregular-weightwhitepaperprintedwithanykindofmusicalscore.Butasithappened,Ialreadyownedacopyofthescoreweneeded!TheQuartetfromRigolettohasalwaysbeenmyfavoriteoperaselection.Manyyearsago,
longbeforetheInternet,Iwonderedwhatascoreforaquartetwouldlooklike-howwouldthefourvoicesbeshown,alongwiththeorchestralscore?SoIwenttothemainRichmondPublicLibrary,requestedthescoreforRigoletto(theyhadthewholeoperainonelarge54WrittenbyRodgerHarwood,directedbyLaurieFollmer55TiffanyJenkins56AdventuresinHomebrewing,http://www.homebrewing.org,$25.64withshippingandtax57Staples,1530N.ParhamRoad58TintItbyDesignMaster,fromMichaels,9856W.BroadStreet
volume),andcopiedtheQuartetpagesontheircopier.Icouldnothaveknownthatyearslateritwouldhelptomakethescoresfortheplaymoremeaningful.Afterthefinalperformance,eachofthefouractorskepthisorhercopyofthescoreasasouvenirofawonderfulproduction.
ConclusionWhenyouneedtosupplyaparticularprop,yourlastresortistobuyitretail.Instead,checkfirsttoseeifyourtheatrealreadyhasit.Failingthat,it'sbestifitcanbeborrowedfrom,ordonatedby,someonewho,inexchange,getsthankedintheprogram.Ifyouthinkthat'sapossibility,mentionyourneedtoeveryoneyouchatwith;ifnothingelse,you'llneverbestumpedforhowtostartaconversation.Ifnothingturnsup,orifthepropneededisjustsospecializedthatyoudon'texpecttofindoneready-made,thenyoucanlookforwardtothefunofmakingit.Useyourimagination,lookincraftstoresforpossiblematerials,askothersforideas.Aspropsdesigner,yourrewardcomestwice:first,whenthedirectorsays,"It'sjustwhatweneed!";andsecond,duringtheperformance,whenyourpropiscenterstage,hopefullynothiddenbehindtheactors.
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