Your favorite stage illusions- Page 2

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 12/13/10 at 11:40am

I seen a tour of Scrooge in Dublin the other night and thought I'd post some of the illusions done by Paul Kieve.

- The Ghost Of Jacob Marley had the best illusions in my opinion. My favorite one was when Scrooge's bedroom door swung open to reveal Jacob Marley then quicky slammed shut. Scrooge ran to the door and opened it out, to reveal Jacob had been gone. As Scrooge closed the door Jacob Marley appeared behind the door. Very badly described. If anyone can do a better job, feel free.

- An armchair in Scrooge's bedroom an armchair done a full 360 turn then as it turned to face the audience again the ghost of Christmas Past was on it. Not the best description but it amused me as I didn't notice trap doors in the stage and the chair was in the centre.

[grandpianoalex]

Posted: 12/13/10 at 3:16pm

Cathy Rigby as Peter Pan flying out into the audience during the curtain call.

[DMsquared2]

Posted: 12/13/10 at 4:11pm

It's really simple but I love it: in The Lion King when the light blue piece of fabric representing the water in the Pride Lands is pulled beneath the stage to represent the water running out.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 12/13/10 at 7:06pm

I worked on the NETworks tour of Cinderella many years ago and I loved the transformation at the end of the ball. Cinderella ran across the stage in a costume that was a mix of her ball gown and rags dress. As she crossed the palace steps were moved to center stage. She ran up them as they began to rotate. While the top step was facing downstage she "stumbled" on the steps, dropping down as if she fell. As she stood back up the steps continued rotating and she was back in her full rag costume. She exited as the stairs moved back to SL with the one glass slipper sitting on them waiting for the Prince to find it.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 12/13/10 at 7:57pm

I dont know if this counts as an "illusion" or not, but the faces of the "four black dragons" in PACIFIC OVERTURES that, by moving a few screens, become the side of a Naval destroyer. One of my favourite pieces of Aaronson staging.

Second favourite has to be from the original production of SWEENEY TODD, when he finally gets the judge in his chair. He slits the throat, and his arm follows through in a curve pointing offstage, and the blood just follows the arc. Wonderful and harrowing at the same time.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 12/13/10 at 9:11pm

A year to the day has gone by and I still remember being amazed by the Ragtime revival. My favorite part was during Atlantic City when the back wall of the set split open to reveal the blue of the sky behind it. Utterly stunning in every way.

[fosca3]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 1:10pm

I loved the beginning (like a musical overture) of Orphans' Home Cycle -- there were sliding panels moving across the stage, and you saw Horace Robideaux age

He stepped behind one panel as a boy, and walk out the other side as a young man

It was simple and beautiful

And 10-ish years ago I saw Richard III in London, and they did 'rain' with all these chains hanging down from the ceiling to the floor, and a huge clap of thunder with them dropping all at once

Updated On: 12/14/10 at 01:10 PM

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 2:36pm

The stampede in "The Lion King" was very creative...along with many things in that show. Taymor may not be the greatest director/writer but she certainly knows how to create a feast for the eyes.

The Beast's transformation in "Beauty and the Beast"
The Phantom's disappearance at the end of the show is magical and creepy along with his "mirror" entrance

And although done very simply, Elphaba's melting is pretty cool and haunting.

[broadwaycat3113]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 2:56pm

the opening scene of tarzan with the storm and shipwreck is definitely my favorite.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 12/14/10 at 11:09pm

I definitely agree about Mary Poppins have better flying effects than Wicked. Defying Gravity looks cool, but as someone else said, it looks like her skirt is imploding. And on a side note witches sit on their brooms and ride them, they don't make them levitate and hold on, but that's besides the point.

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 4/9/11 at 12:34pm

Can someone explain how they do the illusions in Mary Poppins particulary the bed?

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 4/9/11 at 8:09pm

I think "Defying Gravity" is more of a powerful scene...as in the cape becoming huge kinda represents her power become full force...and I'm pretty sure if she was riding the broom people would be complaining about that...to me...the effect is more powerful then it is realistic

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 4/9/11 at 9:58pm

Eh. Flying in the theatre has never really impressed me (save, ironically enough, Spider-Man). The main problem is that real, exciting flying should involve drastic motion, which is hard to portray on stage. Elphaba just sort of "floats" there, 10 feet above them all as they stare up at her awkwardly. Moreover, it makes no sense whatsoever for her to be clutching the broom and twirling it around instead of riding it. Nobody can explain that to me.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 4/9/11 at 10:31pm

Idk, I think it is more or less that the power is comin from within her and the broom is more or less where it manifests...if that makes sense?
To me, its simply powerful. Reality is suspended in that moment. And in the moment your so caught up in the story, characters, emotion, the music...it all climaxes into this beautiful picture (even if you hate the show ya gotta admit, it is a pretty nifty stage picture)

[Trina55]

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

My favorite: There's a moment in Next to Normal when (spoiler?) Dan is mopping up blood. The effect they use is so simple, but creates such a visceral image - it shocks me every time.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 11:14am

The one done 8 times a week at the Gershwin making people believe Wicked is the greatest show ever.

[dragonlp86]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 11:28am

"My favorite: There's a moment in Next to Normal when (spoiler?) Dan is mopping up blood. The effect they use is so simple, but creates such a visceral image - it shocks me every time."

This. It's one of those things where if you're not actually paying attention, you might miss it or not think you actually saw it.

[bossbear062]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 12:24pm

When I was a kid I thought that CHIP in Beauty and the Beast was pretty cool.

[dramarama3]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 6:45pm

Not exactly an illusion, but projectile vomit in God of Carnage was both authentic and surprising. haha

[inick122492]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 9:52pm

I don't care what anybody says -- Defying Gravity is stunning
Although it's not my favorite show, the new Les Miz tour has a neat new projector as the farthest back drop and can create a real sense of scene and life.

[willrogers2008]

Posted: 4/10/11 at 10:18pm

I'M CHANGING from Dreamgirls. A simple and definitive stage illusion. No tricks, no elevator, just a follow spot and the work of a genius.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 4/25/11 at 10:05am

Spoiler, I guess, but the destruction of the entire set at the end of Blithe Spirit.

[JRybka]

Posted: 4/25/11 at 10:25am

Does anyone else recall the amazing house/set of An Inspector Calls. How it breaks open and such... I always thought that was AMAZING!

[luke-h***]

Posted: 4/25/11 at 10:28am

"The one done 8 times a week at the Gershwin making people believe Wicked is the greatest show ever."

Haha! Love it! Defying Gravity may be "artistic" and all, personally I fondly disagree, but it is honestly nothing if you compare it to the flight of the three girls at the end of act one in original London production of The Witches of Eastwick. Floating, spinning, and then flying out of the stage and exiting over the audience. Absolutely stunning. I didn't see the show, but have a teacher's guide on VHS, with parts of the show filmed professionally, the whole final act one scene is on there, and wow. Just wow.

[mallardo]

Posted: 4/25/11 at 2:26pm

The transformation of little Joey into big Joey in War Horse.