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Theatremagic New user 3 Posts |
Hello. First off, thank you in advance for any help you can give me. I am a high school theatre director, and we will be producing Mary Poppins the musical this fall. There are a number of "tricks" in the show that we are hoping to get the students to build. The one we are having the most trouble with is the self rising cake. During Spoonful of Sugar, Mary holds a pan in which a cake rises (sometimes it just ices itself depending on the production). I know an easy solution would be. Dove pan and a foam birthday cake, but I'd like it to look more realistic. I'd also really like to see the cake rise before our eyes. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I hope I am not violating any codes by asking.
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Does she have to be holding the pan, or could it be sitting atop a table? There would certainly be more mechanical options if it could.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
Theatremagic New user 3 Posts |
Thanks for replying so fast. It can sit on the table, but there won't be any room under the table to hide any mechanics...the table falls apart and then sets itself back up...so holding it would be the best option.
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CJRichard Special user Massachusetts 542 Posts |
A cake made of a fabric sleeve with rings inside keeping it circular could be pulled up from above.
A fabric cake with a bladder inside could be inflated with air. A draped tray with an empty pan on top could, with proper choreography--a pirouette,say--be flipped over to reveal a hidden cake in a matching pan. Since this is "stage craft" rather than "magic," I don't think exposure in this forum is a problem, is it? At least not for something like this.
"You know some of you are laughin', but there's people here tryin' to learn. . ." -Pop Haydn
"I know of no other art that proclaims itself 'easy to do.'" -Master Payne Ezekiel the Green |
Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
They use to make spring loaded cakes for production items, but those days are gone. A large spring covered in cloth, decorated like a cake. If you can find the right size spring say from furniture or mattresses then maybe you can make one. Then just attach a plate to the top of the spring, and attach a string to it, then release the string slowly.
Currently, I can only find a triple layer cake made out sponge. You could maybe do the same thing with it, it depends on how firm the sponge is at pulling down. The says it made to fit a dove pan, they don't say want size dove pan. http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/S4684 |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Quote:
On Jul 14, 2015, CJRichard wrote: Yes. This is one of the ideas that crossed my mind, too. The only problem I see is that it would be a problem moving the cake from that location. Maybe one of these inside the same type sleeve. Everything fits into a box (or deep pan). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QYbqkR2BgY
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
CJRichard Special user Massachusetts 542 Posts |
Masry Poppins would really have to be belting out her tune to cover the sound of that tape measure, Michael. (I once had to make an emergency onstage repair, hammering in time with the orchestra playing the overture.)
Bill Hegbli's idea works better, I think. The string holds the top of the cake down to start, with the cake self supporting upon release.
"You know some of you are laughin', but there's people here tryin' to learn. . ." -Pop Haydn
"I know of no other art that proclaims itself 'easy to do.'" -Master Payne Ezekiel the Green |
Theatremagic New user 3 Posts |
Wow! Some great ideas and links! I knew I came to the right place. I'm going to play around with some of these this weekend and I'll report back!
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Dan Ford Special user Illinois 753 Posts |
Bill has the right idea with the spring, and there are some small waste baskets on the market that pop up with a spring inside. They could be covered and controlled with a slow release of a cord to make rise.
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Chris Stolz Inner circle Mississauga, Ontario 1958 Posts |
Send me an email. I did the professional production in Vancouver.
Chris Stolz
BLACK ART BOOK: Hiding In The Shadows. |
MeetMagicMike Inner circle Gainesville Fl 3501 Posts |
I'm very curious to hear how this turns out. Love to see pics or video of the final cake.
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