The Most Effective Blackout in a Production- Page 2

[Wildcard]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 10:10pm

In "The Woman in Black" when the lights go out and the lead turns on his flashlight

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 10:16pm

I love the blackout leading into "The Blackout".

The blackout right when Elle jumps in "So Much Better"
That is kinda cool to not see her land.

The one after Defying Gravity

Just a comical one, in Curtains when Cioffi leaves the stage for his "urgent call" and leaves the briefcase with the top secret info onstage with all the suspects. It goes black and then he says Lights and they are all around it trying to grab it for themselves.

[BroadwayBoy2]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 10:20pm

I found the "slow fade" if that counts in August to be effective. I like the legally blonde one also. There is nothing better in theatre than a REALLY effective blackout, and nothing worse than a show that over uses blackouts.

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 10:31pm

Instead of [i]black[/i]out, how about the "whiteout" at the end of the SUNDAY revival? So powerful, and illustrates the final line of the show so beautifully.

Daniel's gasp when he sees it gets me every time. How I wish they had put that on the recording.

[steven22]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 10:32pm

its over its over its over (contact in rent)

I think that's a blackout

[esparza 333]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 10:42pm

TonyVIncent you are right. While I did not see the revival having watched the original numerous times the White Out is nothing short of breathtaking and kind of wraps up the show in the most fulfilling way.

[brandontwin2]

Posted: 4/11/09 at 10:57pm

I don't see how DG is an effective blackout other than leaving some audience members thinking that the show is over, it isn't really a cliffhanger or anything.

[fosca3]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 11:06am

For me -- CABARET, no contest

I still remember the moment Alan Cumming removed his coat, and you saw his concentration camp garb (with 'jewish' and 'gay' symbols, if I remember right?)

The expression on his face, the swelling music, all of it just made my heart stop. And the blackout was just chilling

I remember afterwards, I didn't want to speak, and I didn't want to hear anyone else speak either -- I just felt frozen in the moment and the emotions

I wish SO much I could go back and re-live that whole performance that day. It was definitely one of my theatre high-points

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 11:08am

"This is like children's theatre for 40 year old gay people!"

Blackout.

Xanadu

[thejcm]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 11:13am

The end of Act 1 of Proof, anybody?

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 11:28am

Speaking of SUNDAY IN THE PARK...

In the original production at the eend of scene three, Dot and George begin circling eachother like animals, everyone watches as she moves her bustle around in front to create a pregnant look. The rest of the scene blacks out with just her and Georges spotlighted for an instant as he puts his hand to his chest as if to say "It's mine?" the teh scene blacks out.
Lapine at his most brilliant.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 12:09pm

Brandon, Defying Gravity's blackout is moreso that its blackout then the lights come back up and shes not there. It just very cool that in a few seconds, she (and elle woods, in LB for the matter) can "disappear". It may sound stupid but i find it really cool.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 12:19pm

The "white-out" at the end of the SUNDAY revival was absolutely breathtaking.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 12:25pm

Broadwaybound-What do you mean they "disappear"? The curtain comes down. It's not like there's a blackout and then all of a sudden there's an empty stage.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 12:27pm

In the Heights and Legally Blonde.

[BudFrump23]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 12:53pm

My favorite one was at the end of (I think it was) Act II in "August: Osage County" when the daughter screams "I'M RUNNING THINGS NOW!" and then we go to Intermission #2.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 12:55pm

Agreed! Totally forgot about that moment.

She screams that line, the audience goes nuts, and the lights go off. Love it.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 2:35pm

I agree with fosca3!


Hey, that rhymes!

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 3:52pm

Damnit Bud Frump i was hoping Id be the first to bring that up. The power in her voice when she yells that line and then bam blackout I love. But for me hands down I agree with everyone else the finale of Cabaret to this day is the most chilling, amazing effect I have ever seen at the end of show. I have never been so moved.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 4:54pm

The numerous blackouts in [title of show].

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 5:02pm

I agree about the blackout after "I'M RUNNING THINGS NOW!" in A:OC. Though Johanna Day's is nowhere even remotely near Amy Morton's. Every single time I saw Morton, I felt like I had just been pummeled by a MAC truck. And just the sudden plunge into darkness was so effective. LITERALLY a cliffhanger.

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 5:08pm

I'm surprised nobody has brought up Blasted. The play that ran earlier this year at Soho Rep.

There was a sudden explosion with the brightest light and loudest sound into the blackout that continued the roar of thunder. I have never jolted in my seat from fear before this amazing moment.

[James2]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 5:13pm

The end of God of Carnage. Everyone one is scattered across the stage, each one a wreck. Responding to Harden, Gandolfini says, "What do we know?" A small bit of music plays, and blackout. When I saw the play last night, I heard people say "Wow" in awe of the tremendous energy and emotion the actors exuded in that 90 minutes.

The end of Act One of Equus. Radcliffe, atop Nugget, shouts, "Amen!" A small bit of music plays, and blackout.

The blackout near the end of The Drowsy Chaperone. The cast is nearing the final note on the record, and then the power in Man in Chair's apartment goes out. Quite funny.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 5:53pm

Ahhh, I love the blackout at the end of Act 2 of AUGUST. I was in the rush seats, so my last view was Estelle Parsons face.

[scaryclowns2232]

Posted: 4/12/09 at 6:47pm

All time favorite:

The end of SPEED-THE-PLOW.

Charlie says "Whose name goes above the title?"
Bobby:"Fox and Gould."
Charlie: "Then how bad can life be?"
BLACKOUT

The look on Jeremy Piven's face as Charlie said that, followed by an immediate blackout, made that play ten times more powerful than it was prior to that moment.


ALSO:
The end of Shining City, where SPOILERS AHEAD


the ghost appears behind the door

END SPOILERS

and the lights immediately go out.
Absolutely terrifying. Blood-curdling. Horror.