Once had a director want a weeping willow tree on the set a week before the show opened. I was the TD at the time and the designer came to me in asking advice about how to get it done or approach the director in saying no - design beyond the
point. I was his rep. for saying no in this both for the designer and the shop and budget/time for the production.
Just as your position as TD was to at times be the go between the artist / designer tech side and the management or director / theater management, I would think this should be easier for you as a former TD. Or tech side verses at times what isn't realistic for the designer/director to have and help them downscale in concept but get overall goal.
First how important is/are this change(s) as mentioned? How will it
effect your design and or in balance help or hurt the show in importance? Is it a idea that might just make or break a
play such as a forgotton upper staircase for TR to "charge" up and down in a stair running way which might at times be really important say for "Arsinic and Old Lace"?
When was the final approval of the design short of minor changes if established? This agan in senign to the shop the plans for
build that the
current TD might have a lot of help for you with as a actuality in cost and time type of thing.
But above all was the three pointed star to go with. Think it was something like cost at the top, time on one side and quality as the third
point to it. Quick, fast, or crap or something like that assuming its wanted and only half baked idea that is last minute jitters as opposed to hold the presses type of importance you and the TD now have to chat with the director about.
Some directors don't feel comfortable with a show and with it the design of it until the last minute, its in part them and you and in part inspiration. Further discussion of it being a no or a thing you and the TD get behind out of seeing the importance of this change is only something that can be figured out in an interpersonal way. TD and other designers in this type of production meeting about the changes requested is the only way to solve it in not being walked all over as a designer tool that's less designer with
vision for the show based on the design intent than carpenter doing as the director designs an wishes at some
point as its designer and you
leg man for it.
Could also be a question of if you as designer and part of the design team inspired with your
vision that concept you have which the director works and builds his world with or if this world he builds short of having a feel for it is still three weeks before opening still attempting to find it. Could also be a director not ready to direct persay by way of understandign the world of the
play the characters inhibit which again is further design meetings.
Seems to me more production meetings of both
current thoughts from the director's
vision and the world you create within that so as to satisfy all of you. No cut off date yet but really really soon as long as such changes are not too drastic that the budget and what the shop already has done isn't wasted that the TD will represent for you.
TD is your ally in chang up until the
point that if important you also agree on the diector's
vision change for the scene.
P.S. the director has no
power to
effect the set once presented - that's between you and the TD or Shop Manager. Any changes he or she might wish go
thru you and the scene shop management when agreed upon. If not the above production meeting persuasion of you and the management of a change, or you in persuading the shop management of a change once on' board with it and your fight with the scene shop to change (within budget) it would seem your companie's production chain of command needs more work than that of the production's changes. Paint color... perhaps, Windsor instead of Art Deco perhaps in screaming high and hill about a missunderstood concept but in the end the director has no
role in the scene shop short of you as the designer and that of the TD and Master of the shop as in charged of it. No changes direct from the director if bypassing you.
Have fun "oh' Lord its' art, be humble...." Don't burn bridges but thre is no doubt deep problems in the production I think only lots of meetings and understandings will solve at this
point. That and a strong production management and TD to back you up I think.