How do they do that?

[AHLiebross]

This board rarely focuses on theater technical wizardry, and I'd love to see a discussion about that. There's one special effect about which I'm particularly curious: In the touring version of "The Phantom of the Opera," SPOILER COMING, the Phantom has no throne-like chair in his lair in which he can hide for the last few minutes of the show. Meg holds his cape in front of him, and he disappears, seemingly into thin air. This action takes place far enough away from the stage left wings that he can't simply run off. END OF SPOILER.

I have seen the tour three times and cannot figure out how they pull off this effect. Katie McCreary, an absolutely fabulous singer who is in the ensemble and who also understudies the part of Carlotta Giudicelli, told me that the cast members are not permitted to reveal the secret. I know there is no trap door, so it isn't done that way.

I have a two-part question: 1) Does anyone have interesting anecdotes or comments about technical aspects of plays or musicals; and 2) does anyone know how the hell the Phantom touring company pulls off the aforementioned special effect? (Please reveal it only if it does NOT put someone in the company at risk!)

[Fosse76]

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

It has a false back that the actor disappears into. If you look at the throne close enough, you can see how deep it really is.

 

[Alan Henry]

I'm in no way affiliated with this production of Phantom and don't know anyone who has been in this new staging. With that said I did see this tour in Buffalo and it will be in Toronto over the Holiday season again this year.

I think (I am guessing and I have no way of knowing for sure!) what happens is that since the stage is in mostly darkness the Phantom is able to maneuver himself into or behind one of those tables/desks that come on stage which also have curtains/drapes around them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKp1FhwMR54

You can see some figure moving among the candles to the right in this YouTube clip of that particular scene. Just skip to 3/4 of the way through.

The cape, like the one designed for the original, probably is built to hold it's shape while this is being done.

If anyone knows 100% please chime in as I'm also curious! 

I must say though - I prefer the original illusion over the new one. When I first saw the Phantom vanish from the chair I was amazed - though how that one is done if common knowledge now.

[CATSNYrevival]

When I saw the tour the vanish happened right in front of the bed. My theory is that the bed has some kind of opening or false panel that he's able to slip into and hide.

[sbflyfan]

It's painfully obvious that he just rolls into the bed. It's right there.  The fact that the action on stage also has to "freeze" to allow him to pull off the stunt escape makes the whole thing very lackluster. Not much of a "special effect" or "wow" moment at all.  If he turned around and she grabbed the cloak immediately causing it to crumple in her hands it would be much more interesting and exciting.

I always found his escape on the throne in the original production coupled with the "did they or didn't they see him" moment to be stunning.  The mob isn't sure what they saw (if anything) and the mask left behind only adds to that confusion.  Christine, Raoul and perhaps Madame Giry are the only people who know for sure.  Having him come face-to-face with the mob, look almost panicked and then be physically touched by Meg totally eliminates and undermines the "mystery never fully explained." 

 

[PatrickDennis92]

How do they do the carpet in Aladdin? Lol, I feel 12 asking. But I'm curious.

[Someone in a Tree2]

^ Having no inside info per se, I understand the four corners of the carpet are held up by wires that mechanically vibrate at such a speed that the naked eye can't see them. It's a superb effect made less so by the hokey route through the night sky the carpet takes during "A Whole New World". The real stunner comes in the finale when the carpet flies across the stage for its bow with the stage lights fully up. Truly magical.

[Call_me_jorge]

I have a few questions.

1. I want to know everything about pride rock. Not just how it comes out of the floor, but also all the logistics behind it like how/the back of the stage raises when it comes up. Also I want to the same thing about the billy Elliot house set. 

2. I also want to know what the cherry picker for wicked looks like and aged its stored.

3. I want to know what all the original decks of theatres look like. And are they still there or take away when a show is in.

[broadwayguy2]

1 and 2 can be answered by searching YouTube, as there are many behind the scenes specials and interviews that show those and the mechanics behind it.

3. By "original deck", I assume you mean the proper stage. And we all know what a bare stage looks like.. And a show deck is just laid down on top... 

[KCW]

You can get a cool perspective on the behind the scenes of The Lion King by watching the 360 video.

[Broadway kid 2]

[theatreguy12]

An interesting thread.  

I was interested in hearing how they pulled off the Aladdin effect as well since having seen the condensed, theme park version at Disney's California Adventure Park in Anaheim where the carpet flies out over the audience, I wanted to see what they would do with that scene on Broadway.

Pretty amazing effect really with wires that are virtually invisible.

I must admit though that even with seeing the wires in Anaheim, I preferred that version.  Especially when you're sitting in the balcony.  Very effective.

Not unlike watching Mary Poppins fly out from the stage and over your head (even though, again, you could see the wires).

Some cool things they're doing on Broadway nowadays, to be sure.

[DarlingElegantine]

Not exactly on topic, but does anyone know the signal to 'okay" Glinda when she goes up in the bubble? I got the chance to talk to one of the touring casts and they spoke about the bubble. There's a signal that the ensemble member who clips glinda in does before she can fly, anyone know what it is? It may be different in different productions

[After Eight]

 "Does anyone have interesting anecdotes or comments about technical aspects of plays or musicals;"

 

Doug Henning's magic tricks in The Magic Show were impressive and entertaining. In Merlin they were impressive but less entertaining, probably because the show was so bad. I also liked the tricks in Sleight of Hand.

[romain2]

Probably my biggest "whoa" moment was at the end of a production of the play The Illusion done at Court Theatre in Chicago.  The actor Chris Sullivan (now on the TV show The Knick) plays a character who disappears on stage.  Like he's there one second and then poof he's gone.  My audience gasped.

Also in Chicago the recent The Tempest had many illusions and tricks that made my jaw drop.  The Ariel character made things appear and disappear (hour glasses, giant tomes)--I'm sure it was Magic 101 but in a space that has audience members on 3 sides of the stage it was pretty darn impressive.

[Call_me_jorge]

DarlingElegantine said: "Not exactly on topic, but does anyone know the signal to 'okay" Glinda when she goes up in the bubble? I got the chance to talk to one of the touring casts and they spoke about the bubble. There's a signal that the ensemble member who clips glinda in does before she can fly, anyone know what it is? It may be different in different productions

 

"

I would think the person that clips her in would have to do it by a certain line and not just give a clue that their done. Maybe it's some dance move or something.

[rdsport323]

Does anyone know how they did/do the tricks on Pippin?

 

That's what I am the most curious about.  I can't remember the tricks specifically but I do remember watching the show and thinking.. WOW.

[Elfuhbuh]

In Ghost, Sam (as a ghost) went right through a solid door that other characters had previously been opening and closing. Does anyone know how this was done?

[Call_me_jorge]

rdsport323 said: "Does anyone know how they did/do the tricks on Pippin?

 

 

 

That's what I am the most curious about.  I can't remember the tricks specifically but I do remember watching the show and thinking.. WOW."

I know when they throw the knives they don't actually throw them and they come out of the box.

[trpguyy]

As is often the case with illusions, you really don't want to know how they're done. The tricks used in most musicals are the same - they're surprisingly simple, and it's kind of disappointing if/when you discover the secret. You're better off not knowing.

As for the throwing knives in Pippin, that's not meant to be a trick or illusion, just a funny little gag (and some OLD stagecraft, too).