How do I build a makeshift trapdoor for play at the theater I act in?

Question

At my community theater, I am playing the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz, and the character that plays the wicked witch needs access to a trapdoor or some method of unseen "magical" escape. This is for several of her entrances and the melting scene. Also, once i build the trapdoor, how do i make an elevator type platform to lift and lower her through the trap door? Thanks

Answer 1

Do you have space under the stage?  If you don't, there's no way of building a trap.  If there is under-stage space, then you need to cut a hole right through the floor into the void underneath, then around the outside of the hole cut a smaller strip partway through the floor so you essentially have a bigger hole on top of a smaller hole.  Then make a lid for the trapdoor which is the same size as the bigger hole so that it will sit on the lip of the smaller hole - this will have to be reinforced so that people can stand on it safely.  When I did the Wizard of Oz we just put a ladder in the trap so that she could climb in and out - if you're having to ask how to build an elevator platform, you shouldn't really be doing it, for safety reasons.  Hinge the lid on the upstage edge so that the Wicked Witch can push it open as she climbs up.  If you co-ordinate with the lighting cues and use plenty of smoke, you can easily hide the fact that she's climbing up or down a ladder and it will still look really effective.  Don't go for the complex methods when with a little deception and trickery it can be done much more easily and safely.  Have a look here http://www.malvernhostick.com/xTheatre%2...

for a pic of our Wicked Witch coming through her trap (we had a smoke machine in the trap so that she appeared in a cloud of smoke).  You also want to check with the theatre management that they're happy for you to cut through the stage (I'm presuming you're part of the set crew as well as playing the Scarecrow?  If not, just let them do their jobs!) and that you're not contravening any fire regulations.  Our stage was a fire barrier and so we had to have walls of a certain standard surrounding the trap so that the auditorium was still a seperate fire zone to the basement.