Fun
FAQs & Helpful Hints
Are
You Thinking Bubbles?
Often
overlooked when considering special effects, the lowly soap bubble
deserves both consideration and respect. After all, soap bubbles
have been with us since at least the 17th century, probably longer.
These perfect, iridescent spheres bring back memories of childhood
wonder in almost everyone who sees them. All of which is only so
much romantic pap if we can't put them to use in production.
There are many shows in which bubbles can add to the atmosphere
of a scene, including that staple of high-school drama, "The
Wizard of Oz." Glinda the Good Witch almost always gets short-changed
in the special effects department when this show is produced. Why
should the wicked witch get all of the "magical" effects?
In the movie, Glinda makes her entrance inside of a magical bubble
but how to reproduce that on stage? One way would be to have a bubble
machine offstage to create a cloud of bubbles in which the actress
can enter. This not only gives our good witch a bit of well-deserved
magic, but also contrasts nicely with the explosions and smoke which
generally accompany the wicked witch's entrance.
Away from Oz there are other productions where bubbles might be
useful. Many plays include flashback scenes in which a memory from
a character's past is played out on stage. Frequently, the transition
from the "now" of the play to the "past" is
done with lighting. In some instances, however, adding a swirl of
bubbles around the actor having the memory could serve the same
purpose as wavy lines and fade-outs do for television. Of course,
this only seems appropriate for a character having a pleasant memory.
A gentle cloud of bubbles around a witness recalling the night of
the murder would seem out of place at best.
Musicals often call for transitions from reality to fantasy and
back. As I write this, I am reminded of the number, "At the
Ballet," from "A Chorus Line," the "dream-ballet"
sequence from "Oklahoma," and Tony and Maria's first meeting
in "West Side Story." All of these numbers take place,
at least in part, outside of the reality of the play and could be
led into with a cloud of bubbles drifting across the stage. Again,
this works best when shifting to a happier or more romantic sequence.
Outside of theatre, there are equally numerous uses for bubbles.
Bubbles may make a better entrance effect than fog for a clown performing
for children. It certainly reduces the risk of setting off the smoke
detectors.
Magicians tired of the now-familiar puff of smoke may find appearing
and disappearing in a cloud of bubbles a refreshing change. Finally,
teachers looking for ways to grab students' attention might make
use of a bubble
machine. After all, soap bubbles
can be used to introduce concepts in geometry, chemistry and physics.
A discussion of refraction or the surface area of a sphere might
be more enjoyable when it's related to how bubbles "work".
Bubble machines have been created to suit almost every purpose and
budget, from large-scale
bubble machines that create a storm of bubbles to battery-powered
bubble machines that can be built into props or set pieces.
In many cases a bubbler is less expensive than a fog
machine. So, the next time your production calls for a magical
effect and you're tempted to pull out that trusty fogger, consider
for a moment if a better overall effect might be achieved with Theatre
Effects special blend of bubble
fluid.
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Theatre Effects Customer Service Department
service@theatrefx.com
www.theatrefx.com
Theatre Effects, 642 Frederick St., Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone: 1-800-791-7646 or 301-791-7646 Fax: 301-791-7719 *********************************************
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