Messages

1

Tools of the Trade / Re: Use of lighter on stage

« on: Oct 03, 2014, 02:29 am »

Thanks for responses to date.
I'm following up the "check with the Fire Marshal" option - not hopeful, but more chance of a change of heart if I actually ask!
Nick - I feel your pain! I tried with a BIC lighter in early rehearsals. I'm not a smoker - I have very little need to handle a lighter; the one I used was "previously enjoyed" so had no warning sticker on. Thank goodness it was a rehearsal!
Ordering/purchasing at this stage is possibly not an option unless they have exactly what I want and they'll ship by personal courier for free! Tech rehearsal is on Monday (Oct 6), Dress on Oct 8, opens Oct 9.
Thanks again for all your suggestions. We might end up just using a flameless Zippo (or a Zippo lighter app on my iPhone!)

2

Introductions / Introducing Colonel Melkett

« on: Sep 27, 2014, 09:33 pm »

(You should imagine this being read out by someone like Graham Chapman's "army chappie" in Monty Python's Flying Circus, or perhaps General Melchett in "Blackadder goes Forth".)

G'devening all.
I'm Colonel Melkett. I'm not actually a stage manager - I'm a character in "Black Comedy" by Peter Shaffer. I'm played by Reg G., who lives in Okotoks, near Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Now... I know that you stage manager johnnies are a rather tight-knit group, but I also know that most of you like to help us fictional characters whenever you can. I know my stage manager, Barb, is absolutely top-hole at keeping things ship-shape and Bristol fashion on- and back-stage in our theatre.
As a character, I'm rather an angry old man, what. My daughter's got herself engaged to a lunatic. Everyone's afraid of me, and so they should be! I use a lot of expletives that are acceptable in England (where the play's set), but which aren't strictly suitable for a sensitive North American board like this one, so I'm having a devil of a time epxressing myself here!
Although I'm fictional, and although I'm not a stage manager, I'm in a bit of a tight spot. I've posted a question over at "Tools of the trade" asking about what kind of devices people use when naked flames are called for on stage. Of course in my day, we'd have live ammunition on stage, but these lawyer chappies don't allow matches, candles, lighters or any of that stuff on stage anymore. So I need to find out what's available out there in Stagemanagerland that looks like a working Zippo lighter, but which doesn't have a naked flame.
Looking forward to getting some good advice on the topic.
And although I can't promise to be that active of a member of the smnetwork, I will most certainly forward the details to Barb, who does know a thing or two about stage management.
Dashed pleased to meet you all!

3

Tools of the Trade / Use of lighter on stage

« on: Sep 27, 2014, 06:55 pm »

I'm playing Colonel Melkett in a community theatre production of "Dark Comedy" by Peter Shaffer. The script calls for several naked flame devices:
> A lighter that the Colonel uses to look around the place. This is used for tens of seconds three or four times.
> Matches used by Harold Gorringe to provide light in the "dark" room.
> A taper used by Harold Gorringe for the same purpose.

Fire regulations prohibit the use of naked flames on stage.
I THINK the taper is solved, but the matches and l ighter haven't. I've found one possible design online for an LED flame in a Zippo lighter, but with this design, it looks like spinning the wheel and turning the LED on will be "challenging".
Does anyone have any surefire solutions for "lighting" a Zippo lighter, and for "lighting" matches?
Dress rehearsal is on October 6th, so we're somewhat under the gun!
Thanking all responders in advance!