Sweeney Todd Barber Chair

[Daniel]

Hello,
I'm designing lights for a local theatre company here in Arizona for
the production of Sweeney Todd. The set designer is having trouble with
the barber chair, with the whole design and construction. Has anyone
ever done Sweeney Todd? How was the chair done? Any thoughts and
comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

~Daniel Davisson
Lighting Designer

[rrr]

Post by Daniel
Hello,
I'm designing lights for a local theatre company here in Arizona for
the production of Sweeney Todd. The set designer is having trouble with
the barber chair, with the whole design and construction. Has anyone
ever done Sweeney Todd? How was the chair done? Any thoughts and
comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

check the archives, there was a pretty good discussion on the chair within
the last year

[techboy]

Post by Daniel
Hello,
I'm designing lights for a local theatre company here in Arizona for
the production of Sweeney Todd. The set designer is having trouble with
the barber chair, with the whole design and construction. Has anyone
ever done Sweeney Todd? How was the chair done? Any thoughts and
comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
~Daniel Davisson
Lighting Designer

Although I didn't build it we used a 'hacked' wheel-chair (cane
backed). Only parts that were kept ... the back, seat and leg-rest.
They were hinged together so that a decorative lever on the side of
the chair when operated would cause the three pieces to flatten out @
about a 45 degree angle. The entire chair was mounted on a single
metal pipe; with the pipe set in a matching pocket in the wagon. This
allowed Sweeny to position the chair over a trap in the floor prior to
flattening the chair and sending the expired actor to 'glory'. The
pole served a second function as indicator for the trap door operators
hidden inside the wagon. By watching the marks on the part of the pole
that was cradled in it's rest they could know exactly then to trigger
the door and be ready to assist the actor as he came down the slide.

P.S. We rented the chair from Hiltonhead Playhouse. That was a very,
very long time ago but ... hey! worth a phone call!

Ken Heist Jr.

[kjones]

For a high school production, we fashioned one out of 2 x 4s and
plywood. It was rather inelegant, but fit the concept nicely. The chair
seat was held in place by a 2x4 sandwiched between t sets of small
casters.Happy to discuss it further....

Take a look:

http://www.columbus.k12.nc.us/wchstheatre/sweeney/

Post by techboy

Post by Daniel
Hello,
I'm designing lights for a local theatre company here in Arizona for
the production of Sweeney Todd. The set designer is having trouble with
the barber chair, with the whole design and construction. Has anyone
ever done Sweeney Todd? How was the chair done? Any thoughts and
comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
~Daniel Davisson
Lighting Designer

Although I didn't build it we used a 'hacked' wheel-chair (cane
backed). Only parts that were kept ... the back, seat and leg-rest.
They were hinged together so that a decorative lever on the side of
about a 45 degree angle. The entire chair was mounted on a single
metal pipe; with the pipe set in a matching pocket in the wagon. This
allowed Sweeny to position the chair over a trap in the floor prior to
flattening the chair and sending the expired actor to 'glory'. The
pole served a second function as indicator for the trap door operators
hidden inside the wagon. By watching the marks on the part of the pole
that was cradled in it's rest they could know exactly then to trigger
the door and be ready to assist the actor as he came down the slide.
P.S. We rented the chair from Hiltonhead Playhouse. That was a very,
very long time ago but ... hey! worth a phone call!
Ken Heist Jr.