Theatre prop-head creations?!?

Question

I'm putting on a performance of Peter Shaffer's The Gift of the Gorgon and need to construct several severed heads, one of them being a Gorgon's. Any ideas of how to make one? It needs to be fairly realistic (except for the Gorgon obviously). The Gorgon's head needs to fit over an actor's like a mask. I'm a bit wary of papier mache as it seems a bit too light. Thank you!

Answer 1

As a one time Props Master, and unsure what image you have of a "Gorgon" and more importantly what your budget is, it seems obvious to me that you need general head piece blanks.

Given that SEVERED equates to heads not worn by actors, hopefully. "I hate it when we have to do a call for more extras".

Wig Heads will work. Also given the fact that the STAGE may be as far as 30 feet from any front row seat, painted faces, shredded necks, and matted hair can represent the beheaded. For greater embellishment you can use LOW volume, aerosol, construction foam, which can be carved, sanded and painted.

Admitting some ignorance of YOUR version, will the ACTOR/Gorgon, lose his head at some point? If so have you managed the mechanics of that? Hopefully his understudy is willing to be sacrificed for the second show. That would equate to having extra "Gorgon" heads available

I am a bit confused about your note regarding "REAL" as it relates to the "Gorgon". Believable might at least be a consideration, most especially if you've ever seen horribly poor representations of MONSTERS in movies.

I suggest,,,depending on the mechanics, a football helmet, WITH A FACE SHIELD frame, and craft the embellishments around that. It can be slipped off, need not have all the STUFF of an actual athlete, in it, and be a solid base for any Artistry you can manage, even using that same expandable foam. Obviously it will be larger than a usual Human head, but I assume so would a GORGONS.

Just my 2 "scents"

Answer 2

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Answer 3

For the average human ... check out wig stands as the base, then pad the features out with paper mache and paint them.

The helmet head for the Gorgon is a great idea ... I'd make the snakes/hair on a stretch cap and put them over the helmet to separate the sewing of the snakes and the modeling of the head.

Rubber snakes from the Hallowween scare department would work for hair.