Thanks for the suggestions. We did try the computer fan idea, but were unable to make it spin given the required location of the fan. There's not enough structure to attach some sort of shaft to use a small motor, but I did get a chuckle visualizing small golden cherubs flying through the audience propelled by an out-of-control CD drive.
We're out of time, so take that, director who waits until the last minute & expects miracles. Actually, I suspect she really expected that I would fold on the prohibition of candles.