How do I create visual effects during my live performance?

Question

Hello, I'm involved in a theater talent show to raise money for a hospital. My friend and I are doing the song Impossible from Roger and Hamerstein's Cinderella. If you're familiar with the song, you know it's complicated because that is the portion of the movie where Cinderella's pumpkin and mice turn into her carriage and horses. Not to mention her rags that transform into her extravagent blue dress. How do I make those effects happen on stage? My friend and I are the only two actors in this song; she is Cinderella, and I'm the fairy godmother, but stage help is available. Please help!

Answer 1

It's easier to rip stuff off than put stuff on. Have Cinderella wear a slim gown underneath the rags, and have the rags sewn so that the seams can be easily ripped (you can also use velcro which would make it  a lot easier). Then have cardboard mice & a pumpkin on stage, painted so that the other side are horses & a carriage.  I think this would be the simplest way to make that magic.

Answer 2

Hmm... depends on what you have at your disposal!

For a regular production, there would be lighting effects, maybe flashpots, maybe fog... Cinderella either has her dress on underneath her rag dress or has a VERY quick change in the wings while "magic" stuff is happening on stage.

Are you doing it in ta theater with lights, etc.?  I would invest in a fog machine or get dry ice and a small fan. :)

You could also have a double- have some strobe lights or light effect and have he real Cinderella step offstage to change, then the fake on step on in rags while more magic stuff happens, then the real on can come back on in her dress. something like that. Of course you'd have to work out all the lighting things so you couldn't see them switching. Fog could come in handy there, too.

sorry, that's all I got right now, without knowing the specifics of your theater or wherever you're performing. Break a leg!

Answer 3

for the dress, im thinking, stand directly in front of her, with your back to the audience.  this will block cinderella from the audiences view.  as the part comes whre you must cast the spell do either or both of the following-

1- dim the lights

2- flash the lights

3- have a fog machine

all of these will distract the audience. as the point comes where cinderellas rags are transformed, some stage crew members will come from behind and help throw on an easy to put on gown over the rags. the stage crew will exit, and you may move to let the audience view cinderellas transformation.

the horse and carraige, im thinking maybe have the pumpkin and mice off stage view, and cast the spell then the stage crew can help roll out the horses and carraige.  if people are playing the mice, have them be on stage, then run off stage to show the audience, the mice were exsistent