Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup: Moving a glass

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Moving a glass

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Forum Discription: For how-to's and where-can-I-find
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2886
Printed Date: 7/29/25 at 2:39am
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Topic: Moving a glass

Posted By: txhern
Subject: Moving a glass
Date Posted: 12/26/07 at 2:56am

Well for my next theatrical challange (grin). I'm doing 'The Uninvited' this October.

In one of the scenes is a seance. What I'm thinking would be really effective would be for the glass to start moving on it's own. Ideally what I'm seeing for this scene is this.

The card table used is carried out and set up by one of the actors. The cards with the letters printed on them are arranged on the table, then the seance starts with the actors fingers on the glass. At the right momoment the blue ghost light comes up on the portrait, and the glass. They get scared, break contact with the glass, however it continues to spell out the last word before flinging itself off the table.

I'm thinking of something with a magnet and a small bearing to move the glass. It would be great to do this with out a cloth over the table. However, it would be possible if a cloth is used to have a small person under it moving the magnet. That's the back-up plan.

Any ideas?

I have much more time to figure this one out, than I did the wilting plant. Grin

Replies:

Posted By: biggertigger
Date Posted: 12/26/07 at 2:09pm

Here is one thought, (I'm not familiar with the show or how many people are around the table) but have two actors on opposite side of the glass. Using their upstage hand, the two actors on opposite sides can pull on fishwire at choreographed moments to pull the glass back and forth across the table, with people moving and reacting at the same time this should look normal for the actors arms to move. You may want to use a smooth surface for the glass to move smoothly.

by placing the fishwire low on the glass is should blend in with the table. Additionally, when the actors have their hands on the top of the glass the wire should be easily covered by their body.

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The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes.

Posted By: txhern
Date Posted: 12/26/07 at 2:24pm

That could certainly work! Thanks.

I just looked over that part of the scene and there are 5 people around the table.

The script is available through Dramatists ISBN 0-8222-1196-3 'The Uninvited' by Tim Kelly from the novel by Dorothy Macardle.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 12/27/07 at 4:08pm

You could use a mild steel disk, sized to fit inside the up turned glass. Cover the disk the same as the table top material colour.

Caniblise an old speaker from a radio or what ever. Using just the magnet from the back of the small speaker, which would be about 2 or inch in diameter.

Attach an arm to it & this can be moved by anyone of the actors, under the table.

The MMF of the magnet would have enough magnetic field to over come the top material.

Apply a silicone spray to the disk & magnet, which will make it easier to move the disk & overcome surface resistance.

You could us candle wax or talcum powder, but this could be a problem & messy.

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[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

Posted By: txhern
Date Posted: 12/27/07 at 7:09pm

Between these two ideas we just might be on to an easy and effective look for this scene.

Thanks!