SCENERY PAINTING FOR THE AMATEUR MUSICAL THEATRE and PANTOMIME
"Sleepover Planet"
This page was last updated on
15-Aug-2005
COSTUMES - FOR CAST CARRYING THE PLANETS

THE POSITION OF THE PLANETS
 Relative sizes are very approximately to scale.
Relative distances are not to scale.

A playground exercise.
To give a rough idea of scale, have one child hold a tennis ball in the playground. That ball represents the sun. Another child then holds a speck of dust in their hand and walks 150 meters away. That speck of dust represents Pluto. And the nearest Star on this scale? 1000 kilometers away- you'll need a mighty big playground for that!.

If you wish, of course, you can also put the other planets in this playground model. 'Even have them orbiting? And when the performance of this Musical is over you can use the Planets you have made for this playground project.

I suggest the children carry their planet on a flat stick or pole. The problem is some of these might need to have free hands to pass the baton to each other at the start of scene two But if possible I suggest the 'Stars' do this as they have a better chance of moving their arms/hands. Incidentally with the children having their planets on poles they can do all sorts of choreography with them, such as when "orbiting" in a dance, those at the back can raise theirs higher than the front ones so you get a wave effect.

The poles need to be of such a height that the children can place the pole on the floor and their faces can be seen, yet capable of raising above their heads. Faces need to be seen not only because the audience want to see them but also so their voices are not muffled behind their planet.
A thought - is the moon a planet?

COSTUMES
Because the Planets are named after Greek or Roman Gods, the cast members carrying the Planets could be dressed in costumes of that era. (Bed sheets?) with circlets of leaves as head gear. Each individual's costume might embody a symbolic item to represent their Planet. But I suggest not having them carry anything extra in their hands as they will already be carrying their Planet. Perhaps the boys carrying planets could also wear false white beards?

NAMES
Planet names could be either on a sash, a belt or even a hat.

NEW. However, if you feel the children will not like the idea of dressing in bed sheets to look like ancient Romans/Greeks then here is an alternative. (Annlaug - although I still prefer the bed sheet idea)

Two cardboard discs to represent the planet (See colour painting details on a separate web page) and worn like a sandwich board. You might need side straps to stop the discs flapping about. I suggest these side straps are held with Velcro. (Annlaug can we mention that trade name? I can't think of an alternative)

Don't make the discs too big as the actor needs to use his/her hands.

Rear View
The planet's name could be written across the back.

To emphasis the roundness make the letters appear to follow the surface.

Dark grey or black trousers and top.

And to give our "Planets" some 'dignity' how about making hats from corrugated cardboard, sprayed gold, with perhaps a silver star motif on the front?
Annlaug - I like this web panel background/text colour scheme- looks very regal. Might use it again on my own sites.
HOW TO MAKE A FIVE POINT STAR

 

 Draw a circle on your cardboard the total size of the required star.

From the centre - and using a protractor - draw 5 radii with 72 degrees between each. That way any inaccuracy is self cancelling and is much better than starting at one corner of a pentagon on the circumference and making angles of 108 degrees. From that point on you can make either a pentagon or go straight to a 5 pointed star by constructing lines between the points .
Staple on shoulder straps so the actor can wear their star and still have their hands free. Cover with tin foil.

Odd Fact:- “Pentangle” - Also known as a pentacle, pentalpha, pentagram, and five-pointed star. No I didn't know that either until I contacted an eminent Northern Ireland mathematician for the above advice on how to make a star, and he told me these alternative names.

On to PLANETS Thoughts >>
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