Open Forum

I am directing "Nice Work If You Can Get It" and am having trouble coming up with a viable design for a fake bubble bath. Keep in mind the risers are raked and the stage is floor level so much of the audience will see down into the tub. I have a real clawfoot bathtub on a small wagon. My actress will need to move her arms and legs (at times) out of the tub during the song, "Delishious." She will also rise out of the tub partially blocked by the chorus girls. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

What about pearl iridescent ribbon cut up into strips that the actor could sort of just pile around in? Or pearl beads?

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Michael Johnson
Trinity NC

Original Message:
Sent: 02-06-2016 16:45
From: Jennifer Jordan
Subject: Fake Bubble Bath

I am directing "Nice Work If You Can Get It" and am having trouble coming up with a viable design for a fake bubble bath. Keep in mind the risers are raked and the stage is floor level so much of the audience will see down into the tub. I have a real clawfoot bathtub on a small wagon. My actress will need to move her arms and legs (at times) out of the tub during the song, "Delishious." She will also rise out of the tub partially blocked by the chorus girls. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

I had a similar problem when I directed "The Women" and ended up blowing up lots of pink balloons and piling them in over the actress. I attached a number of them to a piece of luan that covered the bottom half of the tub. It looked good. 

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Marla Truini
Director of Drama
Middlebury CT

Original Message:
Sent: 02-07-2016 09:05
From: Michael Johnson
Subject: Fake Bubble Bath

What about pearl iridescent ribbon cut up into strips that the actor could sort of just pile around in? Or pearl beads?

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Michael Johnson
Trinity NC

Bubble pack over the surface of the tub where the water would be.

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Bonnie Fraker
Chair, Department of Theatre
Northwest School of the Arts
Charlotte, NC

Original Message:
Sent: 02-06-2016 16:45
From: Jennifer Jordan
Subject: Fake Bubble Bath

I am directing "Nice Work If You Can Get It" and am having trouble coming up with a viable design for a fake bubble bath. Keep in mind the risers are raked and the stage is floor level so much of the audience will see down into the tub. I have a real clawfoot bathtub on a small wagon. My actress will need to move her arms and legs (at times) out of the tub during the song, "Delishious." She will also rise out of the tub partially blocked by the chorus girls. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Oh, that is a good idea-- bubble wrap-- could be covered with Modge Podge or a similar coating and painted-- affix them to a superstructure of cardboard or whatever and the actress could get in under.... could drape some over the tub; pull the sheet up and over... fantastic

Great idea!

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Michael Johnson
Trinity NC

Original Message:
Sent: 02-08-2016 09:46
From: Bonnie Fraker
Subject: Fake Bubble Bath

Bubble pack over the surface of the tub where the water would be.

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Bonnie Fraker
Chair, Department of Theatre
Northwest School of the Arts
Charlotte, NC

When I needed bubbles, I used batting for stuffed animals or pillows.  You can pull into pieces and the size that you need as well as glue some to the edge of the tub for effect.  

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Leigha Nix
Madison, MS

Original Message:
Sent: 02-06-2016 16:45
From: Jennifer Jordan
Subject: Fake Bubble Bath

I am directing "Nice Work If You Can Get It" and am having trouble coming up with a viable design for a fake bubble bath. Keep in mind the risers are raked and the stage is floor level so much of the audience will see down into the tub. I have a real clawfoot bathtub on a small wagon. My actress will need to move her arms and legs (at times) out of the tub during the song, "Delishious." She will also rise out of the tub partially blocked by the chorus girls. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Everyone!

We tried most of these ideas and ended up using batting torn up in pieces around the tub. Worked surprisingly well.

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Jennifer Jordan
Drama and Dance Director
Miss Hall's School
Pittsfield MA

Original Message:
Sent: 02-06-2016 16:45
From: Jennifer Jordan
Subject: Fake Bubble Bath

I am directing "Nice Work If You Can Get It" and am having trouble coming up with a viable design for a fake bubble bath. Keep in mind the risers are raked and the stage is floor level so much of the audience will see down into the tub. I have a real clawfoot bathtub on a small wagon. My actress will need to move her arms and legs (at times) out of the tub during the song, "Delishious." She will also rise out of the tub partially blocked by the chorus girls. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.