Here's an in-depth analysis of the ubiquitous coin purse from my very good friend and colleague, Monica Cuoco.
--Heath Belden
I cannot remember the last show I did without a coin purse, or several coin
purses. I spent a long time loathing coin purses. Now, coin purses have
come to be a pinnacle of my life as a stage manager. However, coin purses
bring a lot of responsibility with them. Here are a few simple questions a
stage manager should have prepared for the predictable moment when "We?ll
need to add a coin purse here" echoes throughout the rehearsal hall:
- What is it made of?
- Will it reflect light on stage?
- What color is it?
- Can we get swatches to the scenic/lighting/costume designer?
- Is it to be a period coin purse?
- Do we have any dramaturgical notes on coin purses?
- Will it be bought, built, or pulled?
- Can we rehearse with it?
- If we can't rehearse with it can we get a rehearsal coin purse?
- It is important that the rehearsal coin purse is a near replica of the actual coin purse.
- We will also need rehearsal coins, of course.
- Will the coin purse be used in any promotional materials?
- Do the coins need to be accessed?
- How many?
- What Currency?
- If the coins do not need to be accessed what will we use as coins?
- What kind of noise should the coin purse make?
Is it:
- Thrown?
- Concealed?
- Used as a weapon?
- Do we need a fight choreographer?
- Put in a pocket?
- What size is the pocket?
- Attached to anything?
- How? With What? Is it removed?
- Will it be needed during fittings?
- Does it close?
- Tie, snap, zip, or clasp?
- If it ties does the actor have to untie it? Onstage? Quickly?
- Who brings it in?
- How? When? Where?
- Does s/he give it to anyone?
- When does it exit?
- With who? How? When? Where?
- When do we see it again?
- With who? How? When? Where?
- Where is it preset?
- Is it a pocket prop/hand prop/piece of furniture?
- Do(es) the actor(s) handling it have
- Allergies? Fears? Phobias? Special needs? Proper Training?
- Are they right-handed or left-handed?
- Is the actor Equity?
- Is the coin purse equity approved?
- Do we need to draw up a coin purse rider?
- Can you email me the coin purse plot (you have one, I assume)?
- IS THIS A PROP OR A COSTUME?
I have come to love coin purses. (In fact I am trying to highly encourage coin purse usage in every day life). I have come to appreciate the time I spend ensuring that the perfect and most effective coin purse will appear on stage. And I have realized - if I can come to love a thing this neurotic and particular then perhaps I have not missed my calling with fish farming or hemp bracelet making. I think if we could all find our own proverbial coin purse we might enjoy our work a little more.
Monica Cuoco, PSM