This is not the kind of costume that one would expect a classic Shakespearean Repertory Theater to be making ... is it?
When my husband and I moved to the Washington DC area twenty years ago, one of the first things we did was to get season tickets to the Washington Shakespeare Theater. And as the name would suggest, we have seen a lot of serious and classic plays, not all Shakespeare, but lots of realistic period costumes.
I think most of you know I kind of got my start sewing of the theater and work for a few years in some of New York's professional shops.
So, when I found out the Washington Shakespeare Theater was going to do "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" I really wanted to see it, especially after I read this article in the in the Washington Post.
Here are the opening paragraphs ...
When the Shakespeare Theatre’s costume department saw the designs for the company’s production of the flamboyant 1962 musical “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” the team realized it would have to use entirely new skills — particularly when it came to the feathery marabou trim.
“We would never be making gold stretch sequin panties for Lady Bracknell,” draper Randall Exton says. “So it has been a huge educational experience.
I think most of you know I kind of got my start sewing of the theater and work for a few years in some of New York's professional shops.
So, when I found out the Washington Shakespeare Theater was going to do "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" I really wanted to see it, especially after I read this article in the in the Washington Post.
Here are the opening paragraphs ...
When the Shakespeare Theatre’s costume department saw the designs for the company’s production of the flamboyant 1962 musical “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” the team realized it would have to use entirely new skills — particularly when it came to the feathery marabou trim.
“We would never be making gold stretch sequin panties for Lady Bracknell,” draper Randall Exton says. “So it has been a huge educational experience.
Photo from The Washington Post
This is the sketch for the costume on the dress form in the photo above.
I attended this with my husband, son and daughter-in-law just after New Year's and we all enjoyed ourselves immensely.
Below are a few more pics. One of them shows that costume above in action!
I attended this with my husband, son and daughter-in-law just after New Year's and we all enjoyed ourselves immensely.
Below are a few more pics. One of them shows that costume above in action!
Take a good look at his thighs ... If they seem a little extra muscular, look again. Those are very padded leggings. Ha Ha!
Seeing the play in person, it took me a few minutes before I picked up on that. They did a great job getting the muscle shapes very realistic.
Seeing the play in person, it took me a few minutes before I picked up on that. They did a great job getting the muscle shapes very realistic.
But, a little post script on this ...
When I was telling Martha McCain about these costumes and the weird materials. She reminded me that she costumed a production of "Mandragola" at the very same theater here in Washington and her costumes used some pretty weird materials, too.
These dresses, for example, were padded with form rubber ... not very period correct construction, but OH what a wonderful effect!
When I was telling Martha McCain about these costumes and the weird materials. She reminded me that she costumed a production of "Mandragola" at the very same theater here in Washington and her costumes used some pretty weird materials, too.
These dresses, for example, were padded with form rubber ... not very period correct construction, but OH what a wonderful effect!
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