(no subject)
So I found on a forum the secret to how the Beast is transformed in midair in the broadway version of Beauty and the Beast. This is from a guy who worked on the broadway show for 18 months.
The entire fight scene between the Beast and Gaston is done using a Beast body double. The voice of the beast is all prerecorded during that part and the body double just pantomimes to it. Once Gaston has been killed, Belle and Beast go back into the castle through the balcony, and before it has time to turn all the way around, the body double makes his exit. So that way by the time it is fully visible to the audience, it is Belle and the REAL beast lying on the floor, covered in his cape to keep him warm. He is no longer wearing the beast costume under the cape. He is now wearing the prince costume and just a basic mask over his head. His back is attached to a horizontal pole that rises, brining him with it. And a mechanism on the end of it (where his back is) rotates and causes the spinning in all different directions. He has to hold his body completely rigid during all of this so he doesn't look like a dead fish flopping around in midair, and keep the cape completely covering him so that we think he is sill the beast. There are flashing lights and spot lights that are a kinda strobe effect to distract the audience and make it a little harder to focus on the actual performer. And for one brief moment the lights go out completely. During that time, he rips the mask off, disposes of it where it can't be scene, and as the lights come back on, the music swells, the spinning puts him completely upright, and he rips the cape off to reveal that he is now the prince. Then the bar lowers him and once his feet are touching the stage, he reaches around and unhooks himself from it and it continues to sink down until it is hidden within the set piece.
I'm such a nerd..
12 DAYS!!!!!
-Cameron
The entire fight scene between the Beast and Gaston is done using a Beast body double. The voice of the beast is all prerecorded during that part and the body double just pantomimes to it. Once Gaston has been killed, Belle and Beast go back into the castle through the balcony, and before it has time to turn all the way around, the body double makes his exit. So that way by the time it is fully visible to the audience, it is Belle and the REAL beast lying on the floor, covered in his cape to keep him warm. He is no longer wearing the beast costume under the cape. He is now wearing the prince costume and just a basic mask over his head. His back is attached to a horizontal pole that rises, brining him with it. And a mechanism on the end of it (where his back is) rotates and causes the spinning in all different directions. He has to hold his body completely rigid during all of this so he doesn't look like a dead fish flopping around in midair, and keep the cape completely covering him so that we think he is sill the beast. There are flashing lights and spot lights that are a kinda strobe effect to distract the audience and make it a little harder to focus on the actual performer. And for one brief moment the lights go out completely. During that time, he rips the mask off, disposes of it where it can't be scene, and as the lights come back on, the music swells, the spinning puts him completely upright, and he rips the cape off to reveal that he is now the prince. Then the bar lowers him and once his feet are touching the stage, he reaches around and unhooks himself from it and it continues to sink down until it is hidden within the set piece.
I'm such a nerd..
12 DAYS!!!!!
-Cameron