Water, Water every where and not a
drop to....... Wait, that's a different story. I've done water many times, from a working sink to full
stage rain for "Singing In The Rain". A couple of articles I've written can be found at:
Water on Stage
South
Pacific can be done with no water or lots of water, depending on the set design and the director's concept of the scene. Without water you need a hair foam, sorry, I'm not the person for this, don't know what the product is, check with your costume or hair people of a local hair salon. However, if you use water, the biggest issue is not how to get the water, but rather how to get rid of it, or how to handle the water AFTER it is dispensed. Depending on the set design, the shower in S. P. usually has to be self contained so it can be brought on and struck during the scene change. Supply can be as simple as a 5 gal. tank above the shower and a gravity feed to a pull chain shower head, very like many camping showers you can get in various outdoor/camping supply stores. It can also be a
hudson sprayer rigged to a shower head. If you feel the need to use a building supply ( I don't recommend it!) make sure you use a quick connect with shut off so the shower can be disconnected for moving and with out leaking all over the
stage. The gravity feed tank fits well with the show genere an is easy and cheap to construct (the same way Luther Billis would have built it!) . You can heat the water or use hot tap water from the shop to fill the tank at half hour an it will still be warm enough for
safety and comfort when the shower scene takes place. A little standard plumbing and a pull chain shower head solves the delivery problem. Now, the real problem, what to do with the water.
Build an up-side down
platform or a shallow tank,
line it with plastic and put a small "
deck" inside, kinda like a fork lift skid. to catch the water until it gets back off
stage to be emptied between shows. If you have time and $$
build in a valve to drain the catch tank between shows, easier than a bailing it out with a cup or
scoop. If you are using tap water and emptying it out between shows, the normal city treatment will keep the water and tanks(delivery & catch) clean. If the water has to sit in either tank more than 24 hours, check with a local hot tub or spa supply store for appropriate treatments.
I know this is a
bit short and terse. If you have more questions, feel free to contact me off
line.
Michael Powers, Project Manager
ETCP Certified Rigger -
Theatre
Central Lighting & Equipment Inc.
675 NE 45th Place, Des Moines, Iowa, 50313
515-277-4190
cell 515-557-0178
