Turntable Staging

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 11:44am

I just saw Coram Boy and (setting aside how I liked the show itself) every time there was a big turntable change I thought, Les Mis...

Has Les Mis pre-empted turntable staging?

Has it become passe, cliche?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 11:46am

I saw it used very effectively in a production of "Wizard of Oz" once...worked nicely for the tornado, the fast scene changes in Act 1 on the Yellow Brick Road and made for a neato Poppy Field set too.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 11:50am

While it wasn't a turntable in the respect of Les Mis, "Coast of Utopia"'s circular thrust was perfect in using various trap doors to change and alter scenery in a simple and efficient fasion.
But yes, I'll admit that whenever I see traditional turntable staging, my mind immediately goes to Les Mis, but it doesn't really exhaust the concept. It's really just a theatrical allusion to me.

Updated On: 4/21/07 at 11:50 AM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 12:05pm

Perhaps the parody of the Les Mis turntable in Forbidden Broadway has doomed me for watching a turntable on stage...

[vmlinnie]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 12:05pm

Les Mis certainly wasn't the first, of course, but it did make Turntable stging a memorable feature, and so it's to be expected that when you see it elsewhere you'll think of Les Mis, because it's just such a famous show.

At least it's a bit less unlikely that we'll be seeing ten different shows on Broadway with barricades, or flying cars...

[timote316]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 12:28pm

At least it's a bit less unlikely that we'll be seeing ten different shows on Broadway with barricades, or flying cars...

I kinda hope they keep the flying car in GREASE. That'd be hilarious.

When I saw The Color Purple, I thought of Les Mis as well.

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 12:30pm

i must say i agree that i often think of Les Mis- but SOO many broadway shows use turntables that it has become very common- some that come to mind are the color purple, dirty rotton scoundrels, thoughrally modern millie, and many more... it has become a theatrical convention often used.

Was les mis the first??? quite possibly

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 12:34pm

Woman in White also used a turntable, while mentioning last season.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 12:36pm

Thorougly Modern Millie used a turntable? I don't remember that for some reason.

[D2]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 12:43pm

LES MISERABLES was certainly not the first show to use a turntable. Turntables have been used forever. MY FAIR LADY quite famously used two turnables, side by side. The 1981 revival replicated that staging and it was quite effective visually. In the 40's, I REMEMBER MAMA used 3 turntables for its many settings. The Metropolitan opera has a huge revolving stage that can slide into place in a matter of minutes, Radio City Music Hall also has a huge revolve.


Yes, there was a technically proficient world before LES MIS.

Updated On: 4/21/07 at 12:43 PM

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 12:46pm

I do not remember one being used for Millie. I know a theater near me used one for Bye Bye Birdie....random much?

[D2]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 12:52pm

In the Broadway production, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE's sets were on a huge turntable. The only thing about that show that worked, frankly. It was most spectacularly used when the scene shifted from inside Muzzy's penthouse to out on the terrace.

I don't know about the various tours of the show. I only saw the Broadway production, and only the first act of that.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 2:15pm

OH!! I so remember now. that was quite great.

[antonijan]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 2:23pm

A new play in SF from the ACT is showing "After the War" and it uses the turntable all through out.....
After the War

[Tag]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 2:27pm

The Lord of the Rings had 4 revolves, and I never even thought of Les Mis during the times I saw it. Perhaps that was because 17 lifts were constantly going up and down in each revolve...hmm

I also saw a production of Fiddler on a thrust stage with 2 revolves (one inside the other) and it was very effective, especially during large ensemble scenes, with the milk cart, the dream, etc.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 4:46pm

The original FIDDLER used a turntable. LADY IN THE DARK used two, side by side. There have been countless shows that have used them, even going back to the days of Hellenic tragdies, because, handled properly, theyre one of the best ways of getting from scene A to scene B. To say LES MIZ "popularized" turntables is, frankly, absurd.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 4:48pm

Oliver! also used multiple turntables.

[notyourself]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 4:50pm

110 in the Shade is using two turntables, one within another, for effective staging in the current revival.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 5:03pm

Didn't you hear, even if My Fair Lady 'claims' to have had two turntables all those years ago, it couldn't have.. Turntables, or revolves, didn't exist until Les Mis... just like Musical theatre didn't start with "The Black Crook" as evil rumor has said.. it started with RENT.

Brush up your Shakespeare.

[Jon]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 6:02pm

In fact, one ofthe main reasons Les miz has a turntable is because the theatre where it was first produced in London already had a turntable built into the stage floor - from back in the 1920's.

[jv92]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 6:35pm

"Didn't you hear, even if My Fair Lady 'claims' to have had two turntables all those years ago, it couldn't have.. Turntables, or revolves, didn't exist until Les Mis..."

They were used in My Fair Lady, they were used in Oliver, in Fiddler on the Roof, in multiple classic musicals. You are quite incorrect.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 6:41pm

Geez... I didn't think I'd need to explain that my post was sarcastic.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 7:50pm

Hmmm...

No one has said that Les Mis was the first to use turntables nor has anyone claimed that it "popularized" them.

I'm wondering instead if it has worn them out?

If we are wanting new and different staging techniques?

Just opinions, and if it works for you, fine. I find I'm kind of tired of them, now.

[jv92]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 8:03pm

Broadwayguy-
My appologies. I guess I wasn't in the sarcastic mood today.

[D2]

Posted: 4/21/07 at 8:36pm

Nom, from this thread:

"Was les mis the first??? quite possibly"