The Amazing Flying Chair... help please?

[Dulkor]

Alright! So, I'm working on a project for a technical theater class, specifically, staging three special effects for the ending scene of Blithe Spirit.

My partners and I have come up with solutions for two of our problems, but the third eludes us.

Specifically, we need to take a small wooden dining chair (no arm-rests, thin legs), and make it fall stage left as if thrown.

Our 'director' for the project is staging the play with a minimal set, no walls, and (for the moment, though this can change) our only stage hand is tied up on stage right, while the chair is positioned stage left.

Have any of you run into similar problems? What sort of methods did you use to accomplish the effect? This thread is really just for general brainstorming, so even if you haven't done -exactly- this, any relevant advice or out of left field concepts are welcome!

Thank you for your time!

[Arez]

Like thrown in the air, or thrown backwards (as if somebody rapidy stood up from sitting in it)?

[Dulkor]

Thrown over on its side like someone was really, really torqued off and using it to vent.

[photoatdv]

Have a spare actor who's off stage at the time throw it. Otherwise just find a random kid to do it. Doesn't need to be the stagehand :-)

[cprted]

What is the stage hand doing on SR? Is it something that could be done either before or after the chair effect? Could the SR task be relocated to SL?

[Dulkor]

The structure of the project requires that it be done through a special effect, how high or low tech is irrelevant. The stage hand on SR is handling the lines laid out for our other two effects.

For those unfamiliar with the play, Blithe Spirit is, essentially, about a haunting. All the effects are meant to be done by 'the ghosts'.

[Footer]

Originally Posted by photoatdv

Have a spare actor who's off stage at the time throw it. Otherwise just find a random kid to do it. Doesn't need to be the stagehand :-)

Yes, it actually does.

This is a non-realized class project. The point of the project is to learn and to find new ways of doing things. This is a pretty typical parameter for this type of class. You either don't have enough money to do something or not enough crew to do what you want to do. This is a learning experience that you will use later in your career. I deal with things like this every day.

If I automate something it costs more but I need less crew. If I hire on an extra crew member am I actually saving money vs the cost of automation?

If people in the CB community want to help with this project, more power to them, just remember this is a class project and the point of the class project to to come up with a solution to the problem.

Thank you Dulkor for disclosing that this is a class project. I commend you for doing that.

[skienblack]

Could you rig something up with some monofilament fishing line attached to the chair and then through some pulleys that would then lead back to your stagehand? You could even use some counterweights so all they would have to do is release the line and the chair would whip away.

[rochem]

Originally Posted by skienblack

Could you rig something up with some monofilament fishing line attached to the chair and then through some pulleys that would then lead back to your stagehand? You could even use some counterweights so all they would have to do is release the line and the chair would whip away.

I was going to suggest something like that as well. Does the chair actually need to fly up in the air as if violently thrown, or is it just being knocked over, as if someone kicked it? If the latter, you could just tie fishing line or something similar to a leg and have the stagehand pull the line, causing the chair to fall. You could even propose building a show deck, which would allow you room under the stage to run the line back to SR. It doesn't have to be anything high tech, just enough to get the job done. If it's the former, however, that would make it a lot more complex.

[Dulkor]

At least an inch or two of upward force is requested, but ultimately the primary goal is knocking it over. Thanks for the suggestions thus far! If it helps, I'll post a basic image of the layout this evening, when I'll actually have time to put one together.