Fire on stage?

Question

I'm directing a production of Ira Levin's Deathtrap. There is sequence in which Sidney burns some items in the fireplace. I know of a number of ways to do a fireplace, but was wondering if anyone had had any experience and or luck w/ using fake logs, a gas grate, and propane to create a working fireplace as part of the set. Any other ideas?

Answer 1

Depending on the resources/size of the theatre where you're working, using actual flame onstage can be highly problematic. And, since the fireplace in "Deathtrap" really doesn't need to be a "practical" (I've directed this one myself), I'd suggest that you might be better off with a lighting effect instead. My designer put together a fake fire using logs, foil, colored lighting gels, a fan (to blow the gel strips), and a revolving disk set up near the lights to create the "flicker" effect. It was VERY realistic, even from the seats closest to the stage.

Answer 2

If you live in the US, there is no really practical way to have a real fire place on stage that would not be cost prohibitive. To have that size fire on stage you would need a fireman on call the entire time, that usually comes to about $100 a night, that is if the fire marshall will even give the okay for the effect.
Your lighting designer shoudl be able to create the effect needed.

Answer 3

You could try flash paper if you wanted a "real flame." But I second the ideas of using lights.