Initial idea... the orchestra is the window... room in an angle
Atget's photograph's...
I see the set very Sepia tone colored- just like old photographs... not black and white but very much the browns and vanilla
yellow/white etc definitely 20s Paris. I somehow do not see the pictures being hung... they could be on the third wall? I find it
more intriguing to have the whole set have a picture like quality but to have not photographs onstage... what are your
thoughts on this?
yellow/white etc definitely 20s Paris. I somehow do not see the pictures being hung... they could be on the third wall? I find it
more intriguing to have the whole set have a picture like quality but to have not photographs onstage... what are your
thoughts on this?
Notes from David Gately:
I would like to start out with the stage empty and just a projection of something like a show curtain with perhaps the title of the show on it. If we
can't do projections this could be a very simple drop with the title painted on it. The projections could also be very helpful when the Tsar is looking
around the room at all the portraits that the photographer has done. Rather than have a bunch of pictures hanging around we could simply project
the different photos (found) as he refers to each. It could also act as a backdrop when we are not using it for something specific. It could be lit with
color or we could use other projections that help create the room or the city of Paris.
Anyway, the stage starts empty and the chorus comes out and announces "The Tsar has his photograph taken!" Then during the following music
they dash about and set up the studio and all the props. Fills the time nicely and could be fun.
What we need in the set follows:
- Window w/ practical blind. We could also perhaps make the screen the window and have a projection of a window with blinds up and down.
Would save us building a window unit. Could be fun.
- Small Couch
- Table w/ phone
- Armchair w/ sittable arms
- Standing Mirror (could also be a projection)
- Photographic equipment
Camera on Stand (Kind with a long black cloth that covers picture taker. Also they
to the plates, which used to hold the film and were slid into the
camera).
Different Camera that can be rigged with gun and flash mechanism.
Some kind of lighting unit.
- Wall of pictures. As I said, we could certainly do this with projections. If not we could perhaps use a large photo album (portfolio size), or a pile of
photos on a table. I don't think we want to have a lot of photographs framed and on the wall. Too expensive.
- Old fashioned phonograph. We need to check with Sharon about doing this section pre-recorded as it is on the recording. We could fake the
record, obviously and then put it over some speakers. (I hate to be a broken record - no pun intended - but we could also have a real record and a
picture projected of a phonograph. Once again saving the expense of finding one.
The prop needs are pretty simple.
- Cigarette case with cigarettes.
- Cushions (pillows) to cover Tsar on couch
- Three gags
There also needs to be a gunshot sound with perhaps a little poof of smoke out of camera. (The poof of smoke could be easily rigged and just be
powder or something that Angele just pumps out when the shot is done.
Costumes:
As I said, I would like to do it 20's or 30's. We can push it to more modern, but then we get into the problem of why they are using such an old
fashioned camera.
The Boy: In the score it says he is in livery. I don't want this. He should just be an apprentice type who works around the studio. He should be in
boy clothes with some sort of smock over it.
The Assistant: Pants, shirt, suspenders, maybe tie, maybe vest, apron. No coat.
Angele: Gorgeous knock out dress. She is at work, so not too formal. Something she can wear scarves with. She needs to try on a couple of
scarves.
Chorus as Abductors: Think gangsters from Chicago in the 20's. Don't all have to look alike.
False Angele: Dressed exactly or almost exactly like Angele. She takes her scarf and puts it on onstage.
Leader: Gangster suit.
False Assistant and False Boy: They should be in shirtsleeves and the take smock and apron from the real Assistant and boy.
(There is a reference in the script to a "kepi" . "You wear a kepi" I have no idea what a kepi is.)
2 Detectives: Just to differentiate them from the gangsters, these two could be in cop uniforms.
Tsar: A very pleasant suit. Something that makes him nice and unthreatening.
Equerry of Tsar: This is like the Tsar's "Gentleman's Gentleman". He is dressed simply and elegantly.
I would like to start out with the stage empty and just a projection of something like a show curtain with perhaps the title of the show on it. If we
can't do projections this could be a very simple drop with the title painted on it. The projections could also be very helpful when the Tsar is looking
around the room at all the portraits that the photographer has done. Rather than have a bunch of pictures hanging around we could simply project
the different photos (found) as he refers to each. It could also act as a backdrop when we are not using it for something specific. It could be lit with
color or we could use other projections that help create the room or the city of Paris.
Anyway, the stage starts empty and the chorus comes out and announces "The Tsar has his photograph taken!" Then during the following music
they dash about and set up the studio and all the props. Fills the time nicely and could be fun.
What we need in the set follows:
- Window w/ practical blind. We could also perhaps make the screen the window and have a projection of a window with blinds up and down.
Would save us building a window unit. Could be fun.
- Small Couch
- Table w/ phone
- Armchair w/ sittable arms
- Standing Mirror (could also be a projection)
- Photographic equipment
Camera on Stand (Kind with a long black cloth that covers picture taker. Also they
to the plates, which used to hold the film and were slid into the
camera).
Different Camera that can be rigged with gun and flash mechanism.
Some kind of lighting unit.
- Wall of pictures. As I said, we could certainly do this with projections. If not we could perhaps use a large photo album (portfolio size), or a pile of
photos on a table. I don't think we want to have a lot of photographs framed and on the wall. Too expensive.
- Old fashioned phonograph. We need to check with Sharon about doing this section pre-recorded as it is on the recording. We could fake the
record, obviously and then put it over some speakers. (I hate to be a broken record - no pun intended - but we could also have a real record and a
picture projected of a phonograph. Once again saving the expense of finding one.
The prop needs are pretty simple.
- Cigarette case with cigarettes.
- Cushions (pillows) to cover Tsar on couch
- Three gags
There also needs to be a gunshot sound with perhaps a little poof of smoke out of camera. (The poof of smoke could be easily rigged and just be
powder or something that Angele just pumps out when the shot is done.
Costumes:
As I said, I would like to do it 20's or 30's. We can push it to more modern, but then we get into the problem of why they are using such an old
fashioned camera.
The Boy: In the score it says he is in livery. I don't want this. He should just be an apprentice type who works around the studio. He should be in
boy clothes with some sort of smock over it.
The Assistant: Pants, shirt, suspenders, maybe tie, maybe vest, apron. No coat.
Angele: Gorgeous knock out dress. She is at work, so not too formal. Something she can wear scarves with. She needs to try on a couple of
scarves.
Chorus as Abductors: Think gangsters from Chicago in the 20's. Don't all have to look alike.
False Angele: Dressed exactly or almost exactly like Angele. She takes her scarf and puts it on onstage.
Leader: Gangster suit.
False Assistant and False Boy: They should be in shirtsleeves and the take smock and apron from the real Assistant and boy.
(There is a reference in the script to a "kepi" . "You wear a kepi" I have no idea what a kepi is.)
2 Detectives: Just to differentiate them from the gangsters, these two could be in cop uniforms.
Tsar: A very pleasant suit. Something that makes him nice and unthreatening.
Equerry of Tsar: This is like the Tsar's "Gentleman's Gentleman". He is dressed simply and elegantly.
| The Tsar has his photograph taken by Kurt Weill description: The Studio Angele, a fashionable photographer's; it runs at an angle to the rear, has a big window on the left, a large couch on the right. On a low lacquer table the phone is ringing. research and process... workshop production at Boston University |
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| julia noulin.mérat scenic design |