Costume Help--Mrs. Potts, etc.
Costume Help--Mrs. Potts, etc.
#1Costume Help--Mrs. Potts, etc.
Posted: 1/5/07 at 12:17pm
So I'm directing and costuming an amateur production of Beauty & the Beast and I'm really stuck on how to build Mrs. Potts. Has anyone else build this costume or any of the other enchanted objects? Lumiere's hands are also giving me nightmares. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
PMs are welcome & appreciated.
#2re: Costume Help--Mrs. Potts, etc.
Posted: 1/5/07 at 9:47pmLots of foam rubber and chicken wire.
http://docandraider.com
#2Foam for upholstery
Posted: 1/5/07 at 10:18pmYou want to find a more stiff - more dense - kind of foam and try cutting it in shapes like those of a multi colored beach ball that make it round. Use the same foam - it comes in diffferent thicknesses - roll a rectangle into a tube-like shape and layer it to make the "candle wax drips".
"I've had two years to grow claws, Mother, and they're Jungle Red!" Mary Haines - The Women
#3Foam for upholstery
Posted: 1/5/07 at 11:00pm
Well we're just starting a production of that outselves!
We haven't been costuming yet, but I've seen other schools do it. You could eith go foam, or make in a hoop skirt idea, thick fabric and some chicken wire.
Maybe once we get going more I'll be able to give you some more info.
Goshen doesn't do High-School-shows.
Dover
Leading Actor Joined: 4/29/06
#4Foam for upholstery
Posted: 1/6/07 at 12:34am
I did a regional production which used a rather nice set of rental costumes, so I can't tell you much about how they were built, but I'll give you a few pointers that I can remember about Lumiere. Our Lumiere enjoyed the particular set of candles he used (we had two different designs to choose from) because they had extra reinforcement up the arms -- I think solid metal rods most of the length of the forearm, IIRC. Basically it allows a lot of the weight to be taken off the wrists. Maybe someone who's actually played the role can elaborate.
If you're trying to figure out how to do the flames... Have you ever seen those cheesy "flaming kettle" plastic toy things they sometimes have for Halloween and such? It's basically lightweight orange-and-red fabric cut in the shape of flames, and light and air comes out of the base to illuminate the fabric and make it billow around. Well it was like that. There was a light source and fans inside the candles, and he controlled them with a button. You'd have to do some basic electrical work, unless you can buy one of those novelty items and take it apart and install it as-is in the candle. This may sound really bad, and of course it's obviously not real flame, but so much less worry, and has the benefit that he can do more with it without endangering himself or the other actors. Also, if the base where the fabric is attached is below the top level of the candle, the flame will actually collapse into the hole and disappear when the fans turn off, so it's not like he'll have some stupid limp flame showing all the time. At the first production meeting I thought it sounded really low-tech and cheesy, but it actually was quite effective. One thing I learned on the show in general is that you have to silence the little voice that says, "But on Broadway..." There are ways you can do all the effects that are still magical even though they're not the same, and the most expensive way to stage something is not necessarily the best, or looks the coolest.
Have fun with it. It's a monster of a show, but I had a great time, once I became comfortable enough to enjoy the show rather than just wanting to get to the end without getting anyone killed.
mejusthavingfun
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/12/06
#5Foam for upholstery
Posted: 1/6/07 at 12:42amYou can use a ton of Starch on fabric and build fairly sturdy shapes out of that. If she was small enough you could cut up one of those yoga gym-ball things. I imagine that would hold the shape. Anything can be made out of chicken wire...
dancinfan
Broadway Star Joined: 8/9/04
#6Foam for upholstery
Posted: 1/6/07 at 7:21am
Why not rent the principal costumes (or even just the principal objects) from somewhere? Cumberland County Playhouse has a pretty good set, as do Costume World (in Florida) and Music Theatre of Wichita. There must be a dozen places you could explore by now because the show has been done so much.
#7Foam for upholstery
Posted: 1/6/07 at 9:40am
I agree. I've Googled these costumes and there's a million and one different costumes for each and places to go.
=)
Goshen doesn't do High-School-shows.
Videos