My company is performing Les Sylphides, among other things, this spring. We use a theater that doesn't have any fly space, so there is only a single black curtain as a backdrop. I'd love to have something in the background to, uh, distract somewhat from my 8 person corps who have never done corps work before. I can't change the curtain, and I can't lower it, attach something, and go on. I could have things sitting in front of it.

Any ideas on how I could create a backdrop? Cheaply?

I've seen copper pipe structures (as in a tree, house shape) that looked really nice. Very clean, simple, but still suggests an appropriate setting. I was thinking about a large tree shape, maybe flanked by smaller trees, centered in the back. A husband of one of the dancers is a local artist, and he might be willing to create something. Would something that modern look odd with Sylphides? Can anyone think of a good idea?

Thanks,
Kel

I once saw Pennsylvania Ballet perform "Les Sylphides" with no scenery, just black curtains and moonlight-type lighting (but they weren't trying to distract the audience from the dancers!). It could be a legitimate way to go in the absence of a big budget or adequate backstage space and equipment. Effects like copper tubing to suggest trees, etc., seem to be at odds with the atmosphere of the ballet, which is supposed to evoke the Romantic period. But, if you're really after something avant-garde...

<small>[ 11 February 2003, 10:57 PM: Message edited by: Liscarkat ]</small>

A set won't distract folks from the dancing - frequently seems folks don't even notice the set and costumes and lighting unless they are so bad as to warrant comment. I'd skip the worry about a cheap set and hire yourself a good lighting designer.

But then, I'm a lighting designer, so I always push for that....

And, I'm a firm believer in: If you can't do something well, don't do it - don't make a space be something it is not.