First, some things I'd want to
clear up with the designer/director:
Big question:
Will the board be walked across by actors?
Minor issues:
Will tracks be needed to run chess pieces across the board?
Should the board fill the
stage?
Should the board be square?
If the board will be left alone during the show (no actors/chess games) I would construct the board with aluminum frame suspending an 8x8
grid of squares (size of squares differing based on size of
stage). I would use
luan for black squares, and install the
luan flush with the
grid supports.
Depending on budget, I would use either a square of white
scrim to fit beneath the
grid frame, or another white cloth.
To light, ideally one would have enough instruments to focus on each square individually from above, or use
cyc lights projecting up to light the fabric squares from underneath. With this option, I would mask the legs of the frame to avoid the aluminum being seen when the
scrim becomes transparent.
If the board will be walked on during the show, I would use lumber to construct the
base and add column style supports underneath the board at all joints or four
foot intervals for larger pieces.
The frame of platforms would be painted in the style of a chess board, and a gelled
instrument would be focused on each white square
To
address the orientation and raking of the
stage, if my calculations are correct, the board would need to
gain 4.5 inches in height every
foot.
In the case of the fabric board, to light the panels while the board is constructed on a
rake and at an angle,
cyc lights would need to be installed in both of the
downstage sides so any loss of light coming through the panels would be spread upstage/
downstage instead of
stage left/
stage right.
