Set Design and Construction: HELP!!

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HELP!!

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=4629
Printed Date: 5/18/24 at 11:01am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: HELP!!

Posted By: AnnetteLogue
Subject: HELP!!
Date Posted: 5/18/10 at 7:35pm

Okay...I've got to create 20 gifts, in various array, of being opened, stacked on the set so an actor can back into them. Now...my dilemma is...what in the devil did they wrap presents in or with in 1740's???

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Annette Logue
McIntosh Theatre Arts Company
Darien, Georgia

Replies:

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 5/18/10 at 9:43pm

Well seeing there are 20 presents they would range from brown paper, cheese cloth to dress material & tied up with anything from jute string to coloured ribons, depending on the givers pocket & station in life.

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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: JazPainter
Date Posted: 5/24/10 at 3:58pm

I'm with JoeMc - in movies set from that time, they always wrap gifts with brown paper tied with simple string (though, I also agree that people would of used bits of old fabric and the like as well). Nice, cheap, and easy!!

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Jasmine
www.BlueAppleScenic.Wordpress.com

Posted By: BelizeAA
Date Posted: 5/25/10 at 8:55am

YUP- Joe and Jaz are correct. Gifts were wrapped in paper w/string or fabric, depending on your station/class levels. If they had money-colored fabrics, if a great deal of money- Fabrics with stripes were highly popular, as was colored ribbon or lace, or a bow fashioned out of ribbon.

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Friendship is the wine of Life.

Posted By: AnnetteLogue
Date Posted: 5/27/10 at 9:59pm

Thanks everyone!! Paper, ribbon and cloth it is!!

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Annette Logue
McIntosh Theatre Arts Company
Darien, Georgia

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 5/27/10 at 10:29pm

By the way brownpaper, in those days, was made from old rope, jute, flax & canvas/cotton fibres.
Also it was a cure all for cuts, bruises & sprains. Applied soaked in vinegar, honey or tar.

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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: AnnetteLogue
Date Posted: 5/28/10 at 9:54am

I actually have some thinner "grey-brown" paper that has speckles and such in it which looks like old rice paper that I am using.

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Annette Logue
McIntosh Theatre Arts Company
Darien, Georgia