GIANT STEPS

Presenting the pantomime ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ creates two major problems for amateur groups, particularly those with limited resources, performing in church halls and the like. The first is that just prior to the interval Jack must start to climb the beanstalk, waving to everyone, as he sets off on his quest.

Short of using a rope ladder or something similar, which would of course, need to be very securely fixed to a strong anchor point above the stage, this can be achieved by means of a small step ladder hidden behind a fence, or a ground row of foliage etc. Just two or three feet elevation, accompanied by dramatic music, is sufficient to set up the second half of the show.

The other problem is the Giant, which need only make a brief appearance, but the big guy must be mobile, and even attempt a brief sword fight with Jack.

Reclining atop a shelf of books in my office, wearing only a pair of combat boots, is an Action Man figure, which has been there for quite some time. Please don’t get the wrong idea, because I acquired it from a charity shop to serve as a scale model that I could dress up as the Giant from said pantomime. I would then photograph it, and along with some construction ideas, make my efforts available to groups who decided to use my script.

However, now there is no need, as I have come across a crackerjack creation built by one Bald Brain, who describes himself quite correctly, as a designer, inventor and dreamer. Have a look at his website – baldbrain.com

Click on ‘Costumes’ in the column on the left, and go to ‘Page 3’. Under the heading ‘Freakshow Jester Halloween Costume 2010’, you will find illustrations of the original sketches, the design process, and the finished costume, plus a video, presenting a pièce de résistance.

The end product is a humdinger design that looks so easy to wear, and manoeuvre. I reckon that with the variations of an appropriate head and costume, it could be a jolly keen giant.

Since BB has published pictures of the production stages, and states “… I've got some how-to's for Halloween costumes and haunted house props.” He obviously has no objections to amateur groups copying the basic design. I checked with him via e-mail, just to be sure, and he gave his approval.

Maybe the metalwork might prove a touch tricky, but perhaps plastic tubing, or willow withies, could  do the job just as well.

There is certainly ample inspiration provided by the building sequence, and demonstration of the final result.

On the same page as the Jester, under the heading, ‘Oversized Costume Starters’, the follicularly challenged chappy offers “… some quick and easy designs to make shoulder harnesses for oversized costumes,”, and there is another brilliant biggie featured under the heading, ‘Jumbo the Clown Halloween Costume 2008'.

The whole site is an Aladdin’s Cave. Come to think of it… I would like to see his sketches for that setting.