What is the cleverest stage trick you have seen? — Page 2

I don't know if it qualifies as a stage trick as it's more fancy stage design/engineering but the ship gliding on stage during The King and I just took my breath away. It was so magical.

Also want to echo about BoM. I LOVE the "Turn It Off" moment when the lights go off and come back on with all the actors in pink vests. And Elder Price finds himself among them tapping away. When I took my friend, she was equally astounded and kept asking me how they did that.

I once saw the alternate ending in Phantom where the trick didn't work.

It's been 20 years since seeing it but I remember in when I saw Beauty and The Beast at The Palace Theater, the young boy playing Chip the tea cup was on a rolling serving cart and it appeared as though you could see right through the lower half of the cart to the scenery in the back. The effect was Chip had head with no body.

Just went to see Aladdin again with a colleague who was going for the first time and he was stricken with the "how did they get the carpet flying?" question.

Oh I forgot about part in Turn it Off at BoM! Thanks for those who mentioned it! =)

The LTC revival of Carousel when the whole Beaumont became the carousel during the Carousel Waltz.

Tag said: "^Not quite a revolving chair. The Phantom sort of slides back in the chair, and black material is pulled down in front of him. After his disappearance, if you were to sit in the chair, you'd pretty much still be sitting on his lap."

And just to fill in more, there's a headpiece that pops out above the Phantom's head, and that's what the cloak is attached to, so that even when he slides back into the throne, it appears as though he's there. Simple, but very effective.

Duplicate post. Sorry

Updated On: 2/18/17 at 04:50 PM

Tag said: "^Not quite a revolving chair. The Phantom sort of slides back in the chair, and black material is pulled down in front of him. After his disappearance, if you were to sit in the chair, you'd pretty much still be sitting on his lap.



"

YouTube "Phantom mishaps" and watch the one with Hugh Panero describing the rotating chair not working.

If you were to sit on the chair after you'd be sitting on the mask and not the guy playing the Phantom.

Updated On: 2/18/17 at 06:05 PM

Not sure if it would be considered a trick but more an effect was in The King and I opening scene with the ship traveling across the stage and seeming like it was going right into the audience. I had never seen anything like that before and was totally amazed!

mailhandler777 said: "Tag said: "^Not quite a revolving chair. The Phantom sort of slides back in the chair, and black material is pulled down in front of him. After his disappearance, if you were to sit in the chair, you'd pretty much still be sitting on his lap."

YouTube "Phantom mishaps" and watch the one with Hugh Panero describing the rotating chair not working.

If you were to sit on the chair after you'd be sitting on the mask and not the guy playing the Phantom. "

In that video Seth says the chair rotates. Hugh never says that, and he also knows better than to talk about how it actually works. Tag's post is the best way of describing it.

The Book of Mormon trick in "Turn It Off" is simple. Their pink glitter vests are tucked into their pants. One day when I saw the show(about 4 years ago), the lights came on too quickly and they were still pulling their vests over their heads.

Hope Davis throwing up in God of Carnage.

Speaking of actors disappearing from chairs, here is MERLIN at the Tonys. Watch it a few times and if you have a slight familiarity with illusions you'll figure the tricks out easily. True, we have the benefit of replaying a video. I'm sure on stage with the distractions of the actors, dancing, and up-tempo song the illusions left the audience wondering. I know a bit about illusions from a buddy who was into magic, but I still very much enjoy seeing magic on stage.

I'll second the Loveland transformation in the original production of FOLLIES as the most stunning effect I have ever seen. Another favorite effect of mine involved the two pianos in the original production of GEORGE M! They were on either side of the stage as part of the proscenium and were used as practical pianos during various scenes in the first act (auditions, George's office, Fay Templeton's home, etc.). The "trick" occurred at the top of the second act. After an orchestral fanfare, twin spots hit the pianos and they proceeded to "play" the entr'acte by themselves. They were player pianos- and that was the first moment you realized it. Perhaps more of an "effect" than a "trick", but clever and fun.