So for On Golden Pond, the screen door has to work, then fall off, then work then fall off again. We were thinking about using Velcro®, but then realize that it may not allow the door to actually work before (and after) it has to fall off the hinges. So, now we're thinking a coat hangar hinge pin (a thingamabobber) at the top which the stage manager could pull before the designated time for the door to fail and then reset it before the des. time for it to work again? Any experience with this issue would be Fan-tastick! (And we're doing that show next Summer!)

Tom J - Assistant Director
teejaystudio@comcast.net

Guess I'm learning, then! YAY!!!!

Thanks.

Just a suggestion but when I did this show - twice many years apart - we used the same routine.  It never was attached until the second act when it's supposed to be working because NORMAN fixed it (finally). The several times it's used it is NOT supposed to work anyway namely when they first arrive, when Charlie shows up, when Ethel swats at moths, when Chelsea, Bill and Billy show up and at other times before the second act.  The comedic part of that gag is that when Norman enters at the top of the second act from outside - to go wake up Billy to go fishing - the screen door finally works and the audience "gets it". It was ALWAYS a great laugh that it finally worked after having fallen off several times before Norman finally got around to making it work.  But yes, the loose pin hinges are fine but not used necessarily until you "set" the screen door to work from the top of the second act forward. Simple old wooden screen door with hinges loose enough that it just falls over when he FIRST tries to open it when they arrive from outside via perhaps a set of double doors stage left.  Then Norman crosses and pushes the door open and it falls off its hinges while Ethel is still out getting firewood.

We are producing On Golden Pond right now and are planning on using the same technique that you have done.  Thanks for letting us know it will work that way prior to us trying it.