Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup: The Miracle Worker food scene

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The Miracle Worker food scene

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Topic: The Miracle Worker food scene

Posted By: oldactress
Subject: The Miracle Worker food scene
Date Posted: 1/05/10 at 2:36pm

Any one have any suggestions for the food scene in the Miracle Worker. It's supposed to be breakfast (eggs,etc) but it needs to actually be eaten and not make a hellacious mess. I was thinking angel food cake cumbs dyed yellow???? Any other thoughts? Thanks in advace.

Replies:

Posted By: vickifrank
Date Posted: 1/05/10 at 2:59pm

Some of the food needs to be eaten, not all, which can work in your favor. Actors could eat eggs and biscuits, but not get around to eating the sausages and fruit which could be fake and thus be cleaned and reused.

So a plate of sausages and a plate of fruit could be passed around the table, but never actually eaten. When Helen throws them they make a mess, but not hellacious and sticky mess.

I like your idea of the angel food cake crumbs--but think angel food cake can smush down and get sticky, maybe you could do the the same idea with bread crumbs? You can buy bread crumbs for breading chicken or fish.

Another possibility could be that they eat 'french toast'. That would be far easier to clean up if you hold the powdered sugar and syrup. White flour sprinkled on top could look like sugar, but be edible. I'd have the actors mime the syrup.

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Posted By: gelcat
Date Posted: 1/06/10 at 1:53pm

Remember that the Keller's lived in Northern Alabama, so think southern breakfast. Grits would be a standard breakfast item. Fried potatoes in chunks would be easy for Helen to pick up with her fingers, and should be easier to clean up. You can get chunky fries from different fast food places if you don't want to make them yourself. Try Scrambled eggs instead of fried.

For fun reference, you can visit the website for Ivy Green, the Helen Keller Birthplace. http://www.helenkellerbirthplace.org - www.helenkellerbirthplace.org

I have visited, and it's amazing how close the little house is to the main house, and of course, to see the water pump.

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www.actorsguildonline.org
Actors Guild of Parkersburg
Parkersburg, WV

Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 1/17/10 at 1:54pm

Remember that this is one of two of the most famous scenes, and incredibly moving. ... be careful of making it too 'clean' - it will really alter the reaction to the scene. And it needs to be pretty miserable to provide the contrast to the wah-wah scene later.

It would be more effective to figure out how to clean up the mess, and for the director to have specific areas (perhaps on a carpet that can be removed from the set?) to stage the worst of the fight.

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http://tristanrobin.blogspot.com

Posted By: adbynum
Date Posted: 1/25/10 at 12:15am

How about torn up marshmallows? Like Peeps.. They can be eaten and they melt fast in the mouth. A little sticky but if you mix them with a tiny bit of cornstarch?

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adbynum

Posted By: PinkScarf
Date Posted: 1/29/10 at 12:14pm

The production I'm in will be using torn up bread for the eggs, and rye bread cut in strips for bacon.

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Current: The Miracle Worker - Annie Sullivan
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Posted By: Mr. Lowell
Date Posted: 1/29/10 at 4:25pm

For our food-fight scene I coated all the dishes and glasses with Sculpt-or-Coat. This protected the cast from shards of glass in case the dishes got broken. Plates still got cracked, but the glue held things together in big pieces that were lots safer and easier to clean up.

-Dana

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Mr. Lowell,
Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director,
for the Linda Sloan Theatre,
in the Davison Center for the Arts,
at Greensboro Day School

Posted By: chrysb52
Date Posted: 3/11/10 at 8:09pm

We used cold polenta which looks a lot like scrambled eggs when it's broken up into chunks. Plus it keeps well for a few days. Also used bisquits and ham along with it for "realism." But the polenta is what Helen threw. It was relatively easy to clean up.

Posted By: Pandora
Date Posted: 4/25/10 at 8:50pm

For The Foreigner, I purchased fondant from a cake and candy store. It molds to any shape and can be easily dyed. My actors thought it was preferable to eating cold eggs, and it doesn't spoil

Posted By: Mr. Lowell
Date Posted: 5/06/10 at 2:52pm

Fondant is a brilliant idea...for just about any food, in any play. I'll have to remember that.

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Mr. Lowell,
Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director,
for the Linda Sloan Theatre,
in the Davison Center for the Arts,
at Greensboro Day School