Stone Table for Narnia
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Set Design and Construction
Forum Discription: Post your questions or suggestions about designing or building a set here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2816
Printed Date: 5/19/24 at 10:42am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Stone Table for Narnia
Posted By: Yates4
Subject: Stone Table for Narnia
Date Posted: 11/17/07 at 11:05am
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I have been drafted to build the Stone Table for my daughter's play "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe". The table was easy enough until they told me that it had to break in two at one point in the play. And then I learned that it was sitting on a raked stage (with a 1:8 rise to run).
Any ideas, especially with how to make it break in two (and be re-assembled for the next performance)? ------------- Yates4 |
Replies:
Posted By: vickifrank
Date Posted: 11/17/07 at 11:48am
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Hi,
I'd make a tressle type table with the top of the table be plywood sawn in half in a jagged line. Under the table I'd have two brackets (sets of brackets that during most of the play have a pipe through them to join the table securely. During the part where the table breaks, I'd have rigged by cables to draw the two pipes simultaneously back past the "break line". The table falls under it's own weight. Then when the next performance comes simply reinsert the pipes.
If the brackets don't allow the pipes to move smoothly, replace them with a slightly larger pipe (sawn in two, one piece mounted on each side of the jagged break) that you attach to the table underneath and grease to allow smooth movement. The small pipe acts like the bolt in an old fashion door slide bolt lock. The larger pipe or brackets act as the slide for the bolt.
Good luck!
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Posted By: Yates4
Date Posted: 11/25/07 at 7:23am
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Thanks for the tip. That may just work, but our table sits on a raked stage so I will have to see about the leverage to pull out the pipes. Thanks again.
------------- Yates4 |
Posted By: Kim L.
Date Posted: 12/05/07 at 8:01pm
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I am directing Narnia with my middle school drama class. I have not made the set yet but have ideas in my mind. If I can find a large piece of styrofoam, I am planning to use that as the stone table. I figured I would paint it to look like stone. I would also have a cut in the middle that resembles a crack. I also plan to fasten the two halves of the table together by using velcro. Then I could reattach for subsequent rehearsals or performance.
------------- Kim |
Posted By: Yates4
Date Posted: 12/18/07 at 10:09am
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Thanks for the ideas. What I ended up having to do was to make a table with 6 legs, one on each end and 2 in the middle. One of the middle ones was not attached, so it held the table up until the ends were pulled apart. The surface of the table was cut in a jagged line that also helped hold it together until the final moment. It ended up working great. ------------- Yates4 |