Flying without flying in a production of Peter Pan?

Question

I go to a small private school, and we may not be able to rase enough money to buy the flying equipment usually used in productions of peter pan. What are some good alternatives? Also, If you have any videos of people "flying" this way, that'd be great. Thanks!

Answer 1

Maybe get a few little trampolines and build some stuff around them to make them look like rocks and furniture and whatnot.

Answer 2

I have flown ! Not in Peter Pan ,but in a production I
directed when I rented a School Theatre in California
for plays
from Broadway back in the 50s.

You can do it yourself if you have a "Fly Gallery"---that
is an area above the stage where scenery is hoisted
(pulled up from the stage ----up behind the proscenium arch)

It takes a small crew---2 hefty fullbacks from the school---
some strong leather belts under the costumes---some
good sized "Pulleys" (from the Hardware Store)---and
Piano Wire ---also from the Hardware Store---and lots of practice----use sandbags at first---not people 1

BUT it's worth it ---no special effects---but the real thing--
and the audience will Cheer!---guaranteed

When I was flown---I weighed 190 lbs---much less
than Peter Pan---but use 2 wires for safety as i did!!

Answer 3

You can find videos on YouTube. The flying can be simulated with a large fan and ensemble actors going by with night sky outfits (dark blue with twinkling stars) or they can be holding cloud props, whatever you like. All against a dark backdrop while the children wear white or light colored nightgowns.

You might want to call theatres and costume shops and any place that rents scenery to see if they rent the flying mechanisms as well. They may not, but they may know where you can get them. I seem to recall we got them from somewhere completely different than where we got the scenery, but you never know! Theatres who have performed the show should have a record of who they used for that equipment. Also if they've performed any show that requires (or could use) flying.

good luck!

Answer 4

Pee Wee Herman "flew" in his stage show by having a balck suit on and a small puppet for his body. His head was HUGE compared to the rest of him, but it was quite funny. I wouldn't use this for every scene, but it might be an option besides trampolines and such.

Answer 5

With pantomime,darknrss with a strobe light and some cutouts of rooftops and clouds and things that people dressed in black can carry across the stage behing the flying characters