Special Effect on stage that had the most impact to you in the storytelling... — Page 2

Off the top of my head:

Wicked - Defying Gravity
Phantom - Phantom disappearing and leaving his mask behind
Les Miz - Javert's Suicide
Drowsy Chaperone - Man in Chair flying away at the end of the show

1) Elphaba flying up during "Defying Gravity"
2) The Giant foot/flying witch in Spamalot.

the set changes in the light in the piazza

elphaba's flight (i saw it from the far side so i could actually see how far out over the people she really went

Audrey II in lsoh

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I can't single out the most impactful special effect I've ever seen, but I can name the best special effect in the show that, overall, has been the most impactful on me as a theatregoer...

Yes, it's ALW's Phantom (my first Broadway show), but the effect definitely ain't the chandelier. What always amazes me about Phantom is Maria Bjornson's use of curtains. Not only do they lend themselves well to the themes of illusion and concealment...they also complete the entire experience from the second you enter the auditorium and see the dilapidated "Opera House". They frame the stage beautifully in the dressing room, "Notes", and "Masquerade" scenes. They are (most impressively) used to great dramatic effect when the Phantom is unmasked on the Opera House stage and, with a few swishes of the curtains, we have suddenly rotated 180 degrees to the backstage area. Every time they're used they move with amazing fluidity and they give the show a cinematic quality that's exciting to watch.

The gradual formation of the "lake" set is arguably a more stunning moment, and is still a beautiful effect, but it's the curtains that are so integral to the storytelling (and are brilliantly utilized considering how tiny the wings of the Majestic are).

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The Fall Of Saigon scene in Miss Saigon is on the top of my list. Many critics have mocked this, but it was crucial in telling the story. The chaos and frenzy in and around the US base in Saigon was cleverly staged by taking the audience to both sides of the gates amid the screaming, desperate pleas and blinding spotlights. The landing of the last helicopter shook the entire theatre. It was deafening! Then, after the helicopter leaves, all you heard was the cries of people who lost all hope; a bit of silence and then Kim coming out of her nightmare and singing with so much joy, only to realize her dream could not come true.

Miss Saigon was brilliant, powerful and entertaining.

The three witches flying in "Witches of Eastwick"...OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! First time I saw that I could barely believe my eyes!

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POTO - Finale Disappearing Act
It was the first real show I had ever seen and my mom took me for my 18th birthday.. I remember this overwhelming sadness as meg picks up the mask. My mother and I were moved to tears.

Probably going to get mocked for saying Defying Gravity but the first time I saw it live, after waiting two years for it to come to London, the anticiaption was so high. Anyway, it gaves me chills and bought tears to me eyes and lived up to all the hype I'd created in my head.

Again with Wicked, not so much a special effect but the lighting for 'One Short Day' here is fantastic. One bit I wasn't expecting to happen so it was really nice.

Apart from that...

Javert's Suicide
Pride Rock (Circle of Life was so amazing I wanted to cry, shame it over shadows the rest of the show)

I don't know if I overlooked something, but I'm suprised no one mentioned the Beast's transformation in BatB...that was stunning...even though most of us kind of know the secret.

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"The famous Jo Mielziner, who worked in the theatre from the 1920's to the 1970's and who designed over 300 productions, did the sets and lighting for the original production of GYPSY, which were largely copied for subsequent productions, although I don't remember the illuminated signs for the most recent revival starring Bernadette Peters."

Gypsy9, I do remember that effect from the most recent revival of Gypsy.

Seems like the Wicked lovers are out in full force in this thread, lol. I have a Wicked moment as well. In "The Wizard and I" when Elphaba sings the line, "And I'll stand here with the Wizard..." She throws her arms out and the whole stage behind her turns green. It always makes me feel happy for her, for some reason.

The flying car in Chitty. Call me 5 years old, but I was impressed.

"I find simple effects prove to be the most effective."

When I saw PHANTOM, despite all the mechanical attempts at 'magic,' the only time the audience actually gasped was when Raoul lept off the bridge and disappeared into the fog/lake through a trap door - one of the oldest 'tricks' in the books.

The finale to the original production of 1776 when during the final tableau, a scrim came down with the signatures on the Declaration of Independence, and you could see the tableau through it, and with bells chiming at their loudest, the lighting changed so that you could no longer see through the scrim, and the declaration looked opaque. I'm getting chills now remembering it! The effect was "recreated" in the Roundabout's revival, but it wasn't nearly as stirring.

Another one for me is the spinning mirrors during "Music and the Mirror" from A Chorus Line.

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