Sunday, November 30, 2014

"For the Sins...."

Had the distinct pleasure of assisting in the costuming of "For The Sins I Can Remember" (http://www.vagabondinventions.com) this Fringe season (http://www.nofringe.org) and was really happy with how the alterations and original pieces turned out. I concentrated my efforts on these two clowns (angel clowns!) and wanted to design and build them some footwear.

The male clown needed the most help. He was swimming in his coat, belt held together by duct tape (yes he was taping it on for each performance), and the britches hid too shyly behind the his big jacket. I think it takes away from even the best actors' performance, to have to pretend like their costumes fit, will stay on, or otherwise make sense. 




Some experimentation implied. For the soles of our Victorian Angel Clown slippers, Mod Podge  on black canvas was the winner because it gave the material a tough and stiff coating, which would not only prevent the actors from walking through the sole, but also would help to pull and keep the sides down to the floor.







With the slippers inside out, I put the soles on. For the male clown, I made the size somewhat larger and cartoony, and padded out from the inside to insure that the actor could perform all of the physically comedic footwork without the slipper, well, slipping.



Turn right-side out, and lace-up with well, lace.






Taking in the jacket was relatively straightforward. I took into consideration the sleeve lengths in ratio to the torso, and decided to just take about 2 inches out of the side seam. The shoulder pads, which were actually hotglued in, needed pinning down into the shoulderseam. The pink bit in the photo is a big prop pocket, that I also seamed into the side.


The knickers they had used in the New York run were real sort of chaste underwear like you would find at WalMart, and I was convinced that a more exaggerated and cartoonish pair were needed to show a little more out of the bottom of the jacket. They still could have been longer in the leg.


Still waiting on some photos from the actual performance, but seeing it on Sunday night, I was very pleased. Costuming sometimes happens best when it goes unnoticed, and only about half way through the show, did I remember to look at the costuming for anything that "bothered my eye". I would have preferred another 4 inches of knicker to show, but overall very happy. What an honor it was to work with these awesomely talented people. To Jenny and the cast Thanks!

P.S. the cops and fire marshall in the background are not part of the production. lol. I am not even going to mention the exit sign saga.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Hockey Shirt

It is months later now, but as hockey playoff time was reaching a fevered pitch this spring, I found myself without any swag to wear for my favorite team, the Montreal Canadiens. After looking online at official NHL "gear", I realized that it was cheaper and faster and I could use some recycled materials to make my own. I was psyched that my bartender, after I had built up enough of a rapor with her to put the games on in the first place (This is New Orleans after all), asked me to make her one. This one is hers.









black/blue swim

Swimsuit Three - Black and Blue
    












Saturday, June 7, 2014

MacBeth -costuming

   

 In January, I had the honor of helping to create, and alter existing costumes, for Skinhorse Theater's production of "The Scottish Play". For the week leading up to dress rehearsal, I moved my machine and materials into Tigermen Den in the Bywater, and hung out with these awesome talented people. The fact that the script had been economized to be preformed by only 5 actors was a plus, but then there were 5 people playing 12 seperate characters so the focus moved to changing them convincingly.
      Lee had already found a perfect pattern and material for the three weÄ«rd sisters and I spent a day with him in his studio finishing, fixing, and reinforcing their hooded "body cloaks".
To Organize, I made a wanted poster for each of the characters. Where I had not yet photographed the actors in their costumes, I downloaded funny (sometimes) images of other versions of those characters from thespian history. As I surveyed each persons costume, I would write ideas down of how to add to it or a list of alterations that needed to be performed.

Crowns. Always a crucial wardrobe prop -after all it IS what all the murder is about innit? Thanks to Southern Costume Company in the CBD for letting me dig around for a few hours. Serious contender on the left and as a joke, the other.
 Below are some production stills by Bill Brown. Enjoy





Really had a wonderful time working with these awesome people. Looking forward to sharing some current sewing for theater projects that I am working on. Be sure you visit you some fringe in the fall.