Playing the hapless messenger in a scene with Cleopatra and my partner is unsure about hitting me. I suggested a straw "horsetail" (for swishing flies) instead, but she's unsure of that, too.
Any thoughts on what a Queen might have for flailing a servant?
A fan (straw or feathers)? A veil?
A veil? As in a belly dancing veil? Not that I would use an actual one but a cheaper material to resemble that.
That is sort of what I was thinking, although the "hitting" bit might be more difficult (it will want to just sort of waft through the air). You might look for 19th century paintings depicting Cleopatra for ideas. What is this for, anyway?
It'd love to hear more about the show you're in too!
As for the scene, does she beat you directly because of the message you bring? If so, is there some kind of papyrus in hand? If I were Cleopatra and a slave brought me something that displeases me I'd be likely to lash at him with that object. If it's a more "formal" kind of beating then I'd think a whip of some sort.
I like the idea of Cleopatra snatching whatever it is that the messenger is reading the message of of and whacking him with it.
Very dramatic and Divaish
It's scene work for a class, from "Antony and Cleopatra". I'm the messenger who brings the Queen the oral message that Antony is well..........and friends with Caesar...............better than ever!
And.......................
................is now married to Octavia. This does not please the Queen, so she thrashes me.
aahhh.....
hmm.....
I say she should have a fan in her hand then lay a sound beating to you with it ;)
Id go with a fan.
You can easily make a slap stick out of a fan or any other bar object. You can get a great sound and she wont have to worry about hitting you..that hard. ;)
Will there be any others in the scene besides the 2 of you?
It's hot in Egypt, so there probably would be a slave fanning her. She could grab the fan from the slave and hit you with it.
Well, there'd be a guard, too, with some sort of club, right? That'd work if this is a one-time show. But if you're doing more than one night you'd need something else, or a lot of servant understudies.
Fly whisk. Braided leather shaft with horsehair tail . 22 overall length. $14.00
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(http://onlinemilitaria.net/images/Fly_Whisk.jpg)
Quote from: iain robb on November 19, 2010, 07:54:04 AM
Well, there'd be a guard, too, with some sort of club, right? That'd work if this is a one-time show. But if you're doing more than one night you'd need something else, or a lot of servant understudies.
"Edmond" would be proud!
Appreciate the imagination but it is just the two of us, up there for a few minutes infront of our classmates.......and the prof 'agrading in a class about acting styles in a university theatre department.
Do you think she'd be more comfortable with the idea of hitting you if she helped brainstorm some of the things she could strike you with? And then work with a variety of handy props until she finds one that feels right?
Quote from: gem on November 20, 2010, 10:32:58 AM
Do you think she'd be more comfortable with the idea of hitting you if she helped brainstorm some of the things she could strike you with? And then work with a variety of handy props until she finds one that feels right?
Well, we've sort of already been there. We perform on Monday and if it comes down to it, I suppose she will just have to thrash me. I've given her the link to this page, suggested the fly swatter, a coiled bull whip, shades of M'Lady D'Winter and Kitty from the 4 Musketeers, so I suppose we are at the final touch.
I'm suppose to hit the festival tomorrow; I suppose I might find something there, at cost of course, and it doesn't seem practical to use such things bought there in some destructive fashion.
Still, it is a point of making it look real, so suggestions are still being accepted.
Thank you.
You guys could get a fly swatter from the dollar store and pad it a bit and embllish with some pretty feathers to look like a long handled fan.
That way its not so much of a whack
From an eye-candy thread in this forum - here's a figurine of Tutankhamen (http://www.galleryhistoricalfigures.com/Figurefull.php?abvrname=Tutankhamen) with something that looks suitably royal and Egyptian to thrash a servant with.