Thread: Weirdest costume creation moment?

Dear All,

I am a journalist for the Sunday Times magazine, writing a feature about the National Theatre costume and props department. They say they have had quite a few burlesque artists hiring corsets etc, and oversized props for theatrical effects. Do you know anyone who has done this? Or is doing this? Please reply to the group, or directly to me at richard@rjsj.demon.co.uk. Many thanks to you all.......

Best wishes,

Richard Johnson

Hi Richard, I keep deleting this post in other areas of the forum. Please can you refrain from posting the same thing again and again into multiple parts of the site - you'll find that people will still notice this message anyway.

Thanks

Dear James,

Sorry to make work for you, but can I please get this re-set as a new thread? I don't think everyone is seeing my request for information, stuck at the back of this queue. I'm sure there would be some people who could help.......

whilst making my jellyfish costume I have had several moments of pure excitement over the idea followed by the surreal realisation "WTF... I'm making a jellyfish costume..."

But surely burlesque wouldn't be burlesque if there wasn't the occasional moment where you wonder what on earth you are doing, whilst holding bubble wrap in one hand and an umbrella in the other... >.<

Not costume creation but props (I'm a photographer not performer!).
Driving in rush hour with balloons filling the back of my car and a life-sized wooden skeleton in the passenger seat - stopping at lights was my favourite part, singing like a loon, and looking over to see stunned motorists! I also had to store the skeleton in my housemates room and forgot to tell her when she got home from a long weekend away and she got a bit of a fright late at night to find it sat at her desk playing her keyboard - woops!
Also, more balloons (leopard print this time) and a huge stuffed tiger. Both times I was with Leyla Rose.
Oh and I also stored the tiger in the same housemates room and again forgot to tell her!

Maybe we should start a 'wierdest props moment ' thread?
My favourite story is borrowed from my GBF, l'amico Fritz.
He's now a grown up set-designer in his own right, but when still assisting he was sent out to buy a blow-up sex doll, to be used in a Handel opera all about a sort of enchantress/sorcerer. They basically wanted to photograph the dolls' head, and have it blown up ( pardon the pun) onto the backcloth.
Being inexperienced in such matters he sallied forth to the local sex-shop, and was completely overwhelmed by the choice - skin colour, hair colour, available orifices etc.
He therefore faxed the entire catalogue of lovely ladies to the designer care of the stage door at Zurich Opera House, where the designer was then working, with a note attached saying " Dear X, Which one do you want?'
Back came the reply ' SuperShirley.
SuperShirley was duly purchased and went back to Berlin in Fritzs' suitcase.
She then had to have her photo taken, so the images could be given to the paint shop.
But SuperShirley just wouldn't sit still, and had to be gaffer-taped to a chair for her big moment.
Photos done, SuperShirley was released. But appeared to have sprung a leak. So being of a practical turn of mind, young Fritz filled the bath and immersed SuperShirley, watching carefully to see where the bubbles rose from. At which point, of course, the flat-mate arrived home with his new girlfriend...........

True, I promise!
Vx

Originally Posted by Tiger Tiger

whilst making my jellyfish costume I have had several moments of pure excitement over the idea followed by the surreal realisation "WTF... I'm making a jellyfish costume..."

But surely burlesque wouldn't be burlesque if there wasn't the occasional moment where you wonder what on earth you are doing, whilst holding bubble wrap in one hand and an umbrella in the other... >.<

You mentioning jelly fish reminded me of a large puppet someone made in college out of cane and organza to be 'earth mother'. The student didn't do the last year of the course. After she left me and my tutor discovered in a moment of genius that if we turned it the other way up it made the perfect jellyfish penis for the show we were devising.