I am directing a production of The Lonesome West by Martin McDonagh right now and I'm in need of a fake shotgun. Does anyone have any cheap options for getting one? Anyone have any old replicas lying around or know of any cheap prop houses here in NYC?
Philitalia is referring to a serious accident regarding a prop gun in Passion at the Donmar. I haven't heard any follow-up on the actor, who suffered an eye injury and they weren't certain he wasn't going to lose his vision in that eye as a result. Anyone have any further word?
Last I heard was that David Birrell was in good spirits recovering in hospital. Since then nothing has appeared in the newspapers, so I hope he's doing well.
If you are a non-profit, contact the other ones in town (MTC, Roundabout, Vineyard, The Public, etc.) and see if they have any prop guns in their warehouses to rent or borrow. Offer program credit.
"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable."
--Carrie Fisher
Side note: Make sure that you have the orange piece on the tip of the gun any time the prop is being used (minus the final performances). I was in a show at my school at which a prop gun was being used (without the orange thing) and it turned into a whole campus lockdown.
"all will be forgiven" because "life is around you and in you" so "rather than let chance take me, I'll take a chance".
theatrehouse.com is a great resource. Much of their stuff is very reasonably priced and their delivery is EXCELLENT.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Not to be a wet blanket or anything, but I believe one of the reasons it’s so difficult to rent or buy a prop -- or even a realistic toy -- gun in NY State is because they’re illegal here. You may, depending upon your show, actually have to apply for a police permit even to use one on stage. We did a show in the Fringe a few years ago where this was one of the biggest production challenges we faced (well, that and wanting to have a character smoke on stage. In the end, we just cut that). Of course, because Fringe shows are a bit more “visible” than a typical showcase or similar small production, the rules are more stringently followed there, but I’d still proceed with caution and plan well ahead.
I can't speak with any real authority, but this may be a more complicated matter than just finding a place to rent.
I second the Theater House website. I end up ordering from them for every production I do and have always had a great experience. They ship very fast too. Looking on their website, they have a good selection of guns that fire everything from blanks to rubber pellets, to nothing.
If you have a good relationship with your local police department, they might actually lend you confiscated guns that have had their firing pins removed.
As long as you don't have to actually fire them onstage, you're fine.