I'm looking to find a way to produce a flight effect in a
very small theater with no fly system - HELP!!!

looking to make an actor fly (or at least APPEAR to
fly!) on and offstage

Couple ideas that come to mind.

For a very simple flying effect one can used a
mirrored ball (like those found in discos or
nightclubs). As the stage darkens, a special light
shines on the BACK of the ball as it spins, reflecting
what effectively looks like a field of stars.

Actors either move in the OPPOSITE direction of the
rotating stars, or (if dialogue is to be performed)
stand in one place and mime a floating posture,
letting the moving background create the illusion of
flight.

Another cheap effect (no fly system or rigging) is to
construct a "Teeter Board." This is an old magician's
trick and might not be feasible due to your set
design.

Simply put: a sturdy beam (wood or metal) with a
tiny seat attached (like those used on riding
lawn-mowers) is snaked through the upstage
curtain (or scenery) directly BEHIND the performer.

This apparatus is painted flat black and is concealed
from audience view by the performer's body. The
middle of the beam rests on a fulcrum (securely
attached to the floor please!) located BEHIND the
scenery or curtain. The end of the beam projects an
equal amount backstage.

Depending on the weight or size of your actor, it
might take two or more stagehands to operate.   On
cue, the backstage crew maneuver the Teeter Board
into position behind the actor onstage. The actor will
surreptitiously back up and sit on the mounted seat
as the backstage crew holds it in position. Once
aboard, the backstage crew place their weight on the
opposite end of the beam, GINGERLY LIFTING the
onstage actor off his feet.

Once the actor onstage gets his balance, he can
move his arms and legs about freely, remaining
perched on the seat. If the beam is mounted with a
pivot head to the fulcrum, the backstage crew can
also move the actor laterally, as well as up and
down.

Combined with the lighting effect described above --
or independently -- the flying effect is quite startling.

Another alternative would be -- instead of rubber --
use an inset of scrim fabric or muslin on which the
door knocker has been painted or (preferably)
silk-screen printed.

A simple light change, bringing up a special behind
the door where the Marley actor is hiding, will
substitute his face for the knocker's.

The same technique can be used for the portraits.

For the flight effect, you could use a backdrop for your set. However, rather than having the backdrop the standard height, get a backdrop double the height. Use the bottom half to depict the scene before the flight scene, and the top half to depict the sky above. The backdrop can be mounted on double rollers (one at top and one at bottom). Have the "ground" part of the drop preset, with the top sky part of drop rolled around the top roller. When the actors "fly", the rollers can be moved by stagehands, so that the ground part rolls down to the bottom and the sky rolls into place.