Hi, all.

 

I've made a head mask, (see pic), for our production of Dreamcoat, but there's only one problem. I'm not sure of the best way to secure it to the actor so that it doesn't fall off.

 

It's fibreglass, hollow, and it sits down over the head and rests on the shoulders, (as per the pic). With rubber padding inside, it's a nice snug fit, but not enough to keep it from toppling forward or back.

 

Anybody got any ideas for securing it to the actor so that he can walk in it?

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

Ta, Joe! Turned out alright, eh?

 

Never thought of sticking a helmet inside it! Not a bad idea. Dunno if one would fit, though. But maybe just the guts of one, without the padding and outside hardhat part, might work. I'll check that out.

 

Thanks for the idea.

 

Cheers.

-or-

2.)Alternatively, you could extend the sides down with a notch for the shoulders--but you'd still need a chin strap to keep the notches at the shoulders. (No head turning possible).

-or-

3.) Extend four straps down from helmet.  One in front of each shoulder and one behind.  Have a ring of webbing (chest strap) that is attached to each at chest level and below the arms and closes at the front.  Now the actor mask ought to stay put.  I'd also put a crown of foam inside the mask to have the top of his head press against and to stabilize the entire thing.  Of the three I think the third is the safest solution. (Some limited head movement).

 

 

In any event, as unlikely as disaster is, keep in mind that you'd rather have the mask fall off than trap the man's neck in a dangerous position if he tripped. 

 

This is beautiful work!  It should be rented to other productions.

 

Thanks for all those ideas. Any one of them would work well, except for the annoying fact that I have to make the supports almost invisible, or at least to make them short enough to be concealed under one of those Egyptian collars.

 

The actors wearing them have to be bare-chested, and will wear those white Egyptian kilts.

 

But you've all given me another idea. I might try men's trouser braces. If I drilled four holes in the bottom edge of the head, and attached four braces, which then attached to a belt at the waist, that might work. Have to adjust them up to pull the head down and hold it fairly hard against the shoulders. I'll need to put rubber foam around the bottom edges. Hopefully, all of that would be hidden by the collar. It's being made by our seamstress. 

 

Of course, the braces will be highly visible, so I'll have to make a virtue out of a vice, and paint them gold. Plus, I'll line the inside of the heads with foam rubber, to make it a tight but comfortable fit.

 

Thanks for the inspiration, guys.

 

And thanks for the compliment, Vicki.

 

Cheers,

Kurt 

Linda

 

Plus, I just love doing it.

 

Still, I suppose I could offer these masks around for hire to paying theatres. Make back a bit of the cost. Everybody does "Dreamcoat" sooner or later, don't they?

 

Cheers.

Kurt