Hi, guys. I wanted to contact an authority on this issue. I have been searching the internet for techniques and so forth, and I even searched out a thread on this forum detailing other such scenes. Gaff came out and locked the thread, seemingly because its been brought up too many times, or that the safety issues surrounding this type of trick are too many.
Still, the way in which I intend to do this trick does not involve anyone seeing the "victim" as it were, hanged on stage. The trick involves a trap door to a chamber underneath the stage and the hangman's rope attached to the actor's parachute harness, worn under his costume. No one will actually see the actor hanged, just the rope tightening. I'm simply the writer of the play, and I won't be involved too much in the production. I just wrote the scene, and now I need to know if such a scene is at all possible to do on stage. Safety is of course my first concern.
In my writing, I am assisted by a simple, but correct, sketchup model of the stage. Two images are posted below. I'll describe the details here:
1. The stage itself is made by scaffolds, (stage elements) 1 meters wide, 2 meters deep, 75cm tall, all sewn to eachother at the legs with duct tape. Additional fastening can be applied.
2. The platform is 2*2 meters, 1.75 meter high and has a trapdoor.
3. The platform is fitted inside of the scaffolds, where two elements will have been removed.
4. The actor is wearing a parachute harness to which the hangman's rope will be attached, by a harness clip.
5. The noose itself is its own piece, and not attached to anything.
6. Mattresses are placed at the base of the chamber to break the actors fall.
7. The rope and mattress together catch the actor when he is out of sight of the audience. (he will land in a crouched position)
8. The opening of the trapdoor will be done by technicians behind the scenes, but the actual mechanism has not been determined.
9. The actor's hands will be free, and not bound as suggested to the audience.
10. None of the actors are professional, as this is a high school stage.
11. The theater is relatively high budget, with over a hundred thousand US$ at its disposal.
When the signal is given from the actor that he is ready, the technicians will open the trapdoor and allow him to fall into the chamber.
So how does this sound to you guys? Is this feasible? Should any adjustments be made?
Thanks for any feedback.
Still, the way in which I intend to do this trick does not involve anyone seeing the "victim" as it were, hanged on stage. The trick involves a trap door to a chamber underneath the stage and the hangman's rope attached to the actor's parachute harness, worn under his costume. No one will actually see the actor hanged, just the rope tightening. I'm simply the writer of the play, and I won't be involved too much in the production. I just wrote the scene, and now I need to know if such a scene is at all possible to do on stage. Safety is of course my first concern.
In my writing, I am assisted by a simple, but correct, sketchup model of the stage. Two images are posted below. I'll describe the details here:
1. The stage itself is made by scaffolds, (stage elements) 1 meters wide, 2 meters deep, 75cm tall, all sewn to eachother at the legs with duct tape. Additional fastening can be applied.
2. The platform is 2*2 meters, 1.75 meter high and has a trapdoor.
3. The platform is fitted inside of the scaffolds, where two elements will have been removed.
4. The actor is wearing a parachute harness to which the hangman's rope will be attached, by a harness clip.
5. The noose itself is its own piece, and not attached to anything.
6. Mattresses are placed at the base of the chamber to break the actors fall.
7. The rope and mattress together catch the actor when he is out of sight of the audience. (he will land in a crouched position)
8. The opening of the trapdoor will be done by technicians behind the scenes, but the actual mechanism has not been determined.
9. The actor's hands will be free, and not bound as suggested to the audience.
10. None of the actors are professional, as this is a high school stage.
11. The theater is relatively high budget, with over a hundred thousand US$ at its disposal.
When the signal is given from the actor that he is ready, the technicians will open the trapdoor and allow him to fall into the chamber.
So how does this sound to you guys? Is this feasible? Should any adjustments be made?
Thanks for any feedback.