CHAPTER 21SCENIC MACHINERY AND AUTOMATION
THEATRE MAGIC IS centuries old. Moving scenery on, off, or around the stage with no visible means of propulsion is a well-practiced art. From pole and chariot systems in French opera 400 years ago to today’s computer-controlled modern marvels at Cirque du Soleil installations around the world, producers have always pursued the delightful spectacle of scenery gracefully transforming the stage, motivated by forces unseen. Sometimes this mechanization is used merely to shift from one setting to another, but other times automation is used interactively and is a part of a play’s action. Today’s modern audiences demand more magic, spectacle, and mechanization, and this chapter covers a handful of ways a theatre ...
