I need help with designing some set pieces. Please help if you're creative! Or if you're not.?

Question

I'm directing on an Alice and Wonderland play. I need to create a giant mushroom for the caterpillar to either sit on, or lean against. It doesn't need to be great. My other problem is that I need to somehow make a giant teapot for the door mouse to sit in. It needs to be durable because it either needs to be carried out, or pushed on stage. Any suggestions are welcome! Thank you!

Answer 1

Make a basic shape out of cardboard then cover with Papier mache - the toadstool for example from a cylinder of cardboard and a flat circle, then use balled up newspaper to start to create the shape, overlaying with strips of newspaper soaked in wallpaper paste or thinned PVA glue. Once dry paint with acrylics or water based paints.

You could either make the teapot a flat front behind with the dormouse can stand or sit, if you definitely need it as 3dimensions i suggest making a base out of chicken wire before covering in papier mache (strips of paper rather than the pulp method).

Good luck  :-)

Answer 2

You can cut out a shape of a mushroom big enough for let say a box or a chair to sit on - then fasten it so the head of the mushroom barely cover where you are going to sit on the box or chair so it would look like you're sitting on a mushroom.

If you can find a bean bag, that would be a start. Or you can do what like the mushroom but with wheels.

Answer 3

If it does not need to be 3-D you could make a 2-D replica of the mushroom and tape it to a step later or some sort of box high enough for the caterpillar to give the illusionsof being on top of the shroom.

A copper cylinder or a plastic cylinder and a giante size pilates exercise ball, or a childrens.  Cover with plaster or paper t hen shalack it and glue it to a flat dolly or something.

Just an idea.