Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site Cascade.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!decwrl!CSL-Vax!Cascade!asente From: asente@Cascade.ARPA Newsgroups: net.theater Subject: theatrical anecdotes Message-ID: <1740@Cascade.ARPA> Date: Thu, 6-Dec-84 17:49:13 EST Article-I.D.: Cascade.1740 Posted: Thu Dec 6 17:49:13 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 9-Dec-84 02:21:44 EST Distribution: net Organization: Stanford University Lines: 43 A few years ago I was in a production of "The Sorceror" (Gilbert & Sullivan) for which I also designed and helped build the sets. Since I was also in it, however, I never had anything to do with setting them up, so what follows was *not* my fault! The set looked basically like this from above: ----------------------------------------- <-cyclorama xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx = garden trellis o o o = flashpot other stuff \ over \ <-house facade here \ \ \ -------------------------------------------- <-edge of stage At the very end of the play, the Sorceror exits UC between the trellises amid flashpots during an almost-blackout. The entire cast and chorus is on stage milling about during this time. Well, one night, the flashpots went off just before the Sorceror passed between them instead of during or just after as they were supposed to. Momentarily blinded, the Sorceror bumped into the back trellis or caught it on his cape (nobody's quite sure) and it fell forward against the two forward sections. These in turn fell forward against the rest of the set. The SR section held up, but the house facade in turn fell forward. Fortunately there was no one hurt. But what the audience experienced was a blackout followed by a bright flash, followed by a crash, a louder crash, and a still louder crash, and then the lights came back on to reveal the set in utter shambles and the cast trying their best to look as if nothing's wrong. One of the leads then sang, changing his words to invite everyone to the ruins of his mansion for a dinner. After that night the trellisses were attached more securely. -paul asente