Pippin Special Effects

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 7/6/13 at 12:04am

So as to not spoil the effect for others yet to see the show, I'll PM what a woman in the audience told me about the sheet effect.

And the fire is just a simple pyro/flint ring mechanism triggered by the actor wearing. Just some flash paper. Very simple but visually appealing effect.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 7/6/13 at 12:05am

You can say it here just add a SPOILER ALERT warning.

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 7/6/13 at 12:09am

Well, here is what I was told:

********SPOILER ALERT********















What a woman told me was that during the huddle Terrence sneaks out from under the sheet and is replaced with something that acts as a placeholder of sorts or something that was already sewn into the original sheet (I didn't follow exactly but it was along those lines). Patina has something on her hands that allows her to lift the sheet (and whatever is under or in the fabric has the ability to give the illusion of support when lifted like that). Contrary to the pyro ring, this one is actually quite complex.


I know it isn't a complete explanation, but that was the gist of what I was told. Hope I helped shed some light.




****END SPOILER****

[getatme]

Posted: 7/6/13 at 12:35am

***SPOILER***




There's a formed poll sewn in two parts into the sheet. The cast stands in front of where Terrence is lying and he rolls back as they lay the sheet down. There are two loops where Patina slides her fingers to make it look like she's levitating a body. When it's time to make the body "disappear," she slides her fingers out quickly and catches the sheet right in the middle where the poll is split so it bends over either side of her arm.

Sorry for the really poor wording of this, it's hard to explain. I didn't notice how it was done until I saw Stephanie Pope on for Patina and she couldn't get her finger through one of the loops and then she didn't catch it right in the middle.

[Movidude742]

Posted: 7/6/13 at 2:34am

***SPOILER***

The first time i saw the show they carried the sheet incorrectly and you could tell there was some sort of form beneath it.

The 2nd time I saw it I was in the extreme left, and since I was looking for it I could see Terrence Mann sneak out through the curtain upstage. Even then I don't know I would have caught it if I wasn't looking for it.

Also from that seat I was impressed how well the knife throwing illusion held up from that angle.

[Nickhutson]

Posted: 7/6/13 at 5:51am

Paul Kieve is the man responsible for the illusions in Pippin. You can thank him for most magic done in most shows (UK based, anyway).

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/6/13 at 9:53am

Is the knife throwing illusion just that the handle of the "knives" pop out of the wood when Mann makes the movement as if he's throwing it?

Updated On: 7/6/13 at 09:53 AM

[mpd4165]

Posted: 7/6/13 at 9:56am

Wickedrocks -That's what I believe happens.