rec.arts.theatre.stagecraft

Christopher Jahn wrote in
news:Xns9A3E829B74A52xjahn@:

> charles wrote in
> news:4f6e0253a8charles@:
>
>> In article ,
>> David Lee
>> wrote:
>>
>> [Snip]
>>
>>> Why does the lamp need to be practical? Is it demanded by
>>> the script or just a gag dreamed up by the director?
>>
>>
>> It's in Ayckbourn's original script. of course it was
>> written in 1972 when no-one was worried about safety issues.
>>
>
> The real key is that it needs to be an effect that LOOKS like
> the actor is grabbing a lamp base hanging only by its wires,
> and not a lamp base that is ACTUALLY held on by its wires.
>
> The lamp base is actually secured to 1/8 wire rope. The Light
> bulb is one of these:
> /toys/fester/
>
> All you need is to jumper the switch, so you run a small gauge
> set of wires from the bulb, up the wire rope, and backstage to
> a switch. No dimmer, no mains, no risk of electrocution, and
> no reaksi of broken glass.
>
> The wire rope is run up to the grid then off stage, where it
> is secured against the first two tugs. When the thing is
> ready to pull down, it's unhooked and left held in place by a
> counterweight. Now the base will drag out as needed.
>
> The "exposed" wires are dummies.
>

Even better:
/prodetail~itemNo~

--
}:-) Christopher Jahn
{:-( /

A little madness now and then is relished by the wisest men.