Anyone who has any experience with live theater knows that any number of things can go wrong throughout the course of a performance. Murphy’s Law states that, “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” No truer words have been spoken, especially when a performance is live and is happening in front of a packed audience. A multitude of things can go awry, (and often do) from a sick actor, to forgotten lines and, of course, the all too common “prop flop.” Let’s take a closer look at when things go terribly wrong on stage and how your show can prevent such occurrences.

 

  • Mislaid Props – Nothing can cause more anxiety than knowing your cue is coming and you have yet to locate the prop that should be carried on stage. Prop Masters or Mistresses should have an organized system of laying out props backstage in the order of appearance in the show as well as by size and practicality of storage.
  • Prop Malfunctions – As the technology of stage productions increases, the probability of a technical malfunction also increases. For example, as reported by The Guardian Theater Blog, the great glass elevator in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane malfunctioned, leaving Douglas Hodge’s Willy Wonka and the child actor playing Charlie stranded – and the performance halted – while they were rescued. Having a technical crew and troubleshooters examine the equipment of more technical shows prior to the curtain going up for each show can help stage crews from having to improvise and problem-solve mid-show.
  • Mistiming of Props  – One of the more common mistakes is the mistiming of a prop being put on stage or being used. For example, sound effects are particularly prone to mistiming, including telephones ringing long after they have been answered and gunshots heard after the actor has fallen to the ground in apparent agony. In this case practice makes perfect and the show will continue – if not for a few giggles from the audience.
  • Broken Props – Also common are props that have been overused and suddenly are found broken or not useable during a performance. Checking all props regularly to be sure they are in good working condition is one of the main tasks of the stage crew and prop master.

 

Don’t let a prop flop happen in your live performance. Call Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart at (978) 682-5757 or visit our website at  www.charleshstewart.com for more guidance and stage backdrops that will make your show a hit!