Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup: Artichoke dip that gets dumped on actor's head?

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Artichoke dip that gets dumped on actor's head?

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
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Topic: Artichoke dip that gets dumped on actor's head?

Posted By: Propsnerd
Subject: Artichoke dip that gets dumped on actor's head?
Date Posted: 3/15/10 at 5:58pm

Looking for ideas on what to use as "artichoke dip" that gets dumped on an actor's head. The director wants realistic (as opposed to handling it in a non-messy way with a duplicate permanently gooped up costume. Ha! Wouldn't that have made my life easier!), and the actor is game for anything (love her!). The dumping occurs off-stage with the actor presenting the results onstage. It also happens at the end of the play, so mess isn't too much of a concern (it'll just become part of post-show cleanup). Having said that, though, I'd love to keep the mess contained to the actor rather than have it drip all over the floor, if possible. Any ideas?

Replies:

Posted By: gelcat
Date Posted: 3/16/10 at 12:44pm

I would do a combo of the two- duplicate costume and wig that have the big chunks attached already, then hit her with something else to be 'drippy' and wet for the end of the scene. There will be less chance of gloppy bits getting trailed all over the stage, plus giving the other material something to stick to rather than just sliding off of hair and cloth.

The other something? I'm not sure- but I would try to avoid actual dairy based food items unless you are going to wash the costume every night.

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

Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 3/16/10 at 2:26pm

One possibility you might try is to prepare a artichoke dip hat of sorts. You could do this much like taking a life mask with plaster of paris. Cover her head with plastic wrap (leave holes for breathing) then pour the partially hardened plaster on top of her head. Put a bowl in the plaster so that it hardenens into place. Once it hardens, slip it off her head, paint it to look like dip and bingo artichoke dip hat.

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Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

Posted By: Propsnerd
Date Posted: 3/25/10 at 3:43pm

Thanks, guys. These are great suggestions. I quite like the hat combo idea. We're still working things out, but this is very helpful. Thanks!

Posted By: Kodiak3000
Date Posted: 4/10/10 at 5:28pm

New here, so bear with me 8)
I had to come up with "quick drying plaster" for Bugsy Malone, and found that Corn Flour (Corn Starch if you're in the US) mixed with water makes a very white, very plastery, very CLEANABLE "plaster". In my experimenting, using icing sugar (powdered sugar) gave a similar consistency, but with less opacity. The problem would be if you're concerned about costumes/wigs, as it'll be sticky.

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Thoughts are Things...

Posted By: DCDoodle
Date Posted: 4/11/10 at 8:20am

I like the hat idea too but I would make one out of rubber instead of plaster. More flexable and would give movement on the hair. You could start with a rubber bald head cap and decorate it with your dip. Cut the back and sides into thin strips to look like it's dripping down the hair. Now what to decorate the cap with? How about some of that flexable fabric paint with chunks? You might need to stich cheesecloth onto the rubber first to have something for the paint hold on to. Never done this before but that's what came out of brain....for what it's worth!