"We know what belongs to a frippery!"

Dear Cast,

Shakespeare Camp is upon us--are you ready?  Lines memorized?  Entrances and exits marked?  Costumes finished, or at least underway?  I'm so excited!  I can't wait to see what you'll be bringing to the table next week.

Some of you may be in a last minute panic about costumes, props, etc.  If so, read on for some simple advice on how to make some last minute choices that can relieve the stress of how to dress--and more!  Read on, fair actor:

If you are casting about for what to wear for your costume, first take into consideration what you'll be doing in it.  If you have a very physically active role, you may want to keep your costume simple--not a ton of extra pieces to drag around or put on, nor anything that could rip right off in the middle of a particularly gripping scene.  Second, think about whether you need--or want--to change costumes and/or costume pieces and plan accordingly.  Third, think about your character in terms of which other characters they are grouped with.  For instance, the King and his court (most of them with a lot of lines, anyway) have decided to wear black and gold, so, technically, if you are part of that character group, then your costume should be black, gold or both.  What happens if you're part of the King's troupe and you didn't know about that black and gold thing--and YOUR costume is WHITE?  Never fear--just add something (trim, ribbon ties, a cloak, etc) in black, gold or both, and you're good to go, looking like a member of the King's merry men.

Quick trick:

Another little costuming secret is this:  thrift stores are great costume resources.  Nothing satisfies quite like taking a pair of women's leggings (circa 1983), a frilly blouse with puffy sleeves (like Jane Fonda wore in 9 to 5), a sweater vest that came out of Great Aunt Mabel's closet last week, adding some trim in the right places, cutting away just the right stuff, and voila!  you have a great look for Stephano or Adrian, for a tiny financial investment and a tiny bit of work.  OR, for the ladies, think about buying those two old 1970's prom or wedding dresses from that yard sale for $1.  Take the skirt from one, add it to the skirt from the other for an overskirt, or use it as a cloak, etc.  In the past, I have found 2-piece prom dresses, and used only the skirt with patches added for a peasant look, I have used one sleeve from a prom dress to create a bodice for a costume dress--the possibilities are truly endless.  Why?  Because the truth is that there are only so many shapes in clothing that have been used down through the centuries in different combinations and updated fabrics.  Don't believe me?  Look at all the bell-sleeved tops recently available for modern ladies to wear, then take a look at the same lines in women's sleeves from the 1960's and from the 1140's--they are all the same, with a few variations and diverse combinations! 

If you're going to use this thrift store method, here's some advice:  know what look you're going for and shop for clothes with those lines, be careful of using modern fabrics (like tie-dye or water color looks--solids are the BEST choice).  MEN--guys used to dress a lot more frilly than they do today, so feel free to use women's clothing--in fact, women's clothing is best for your purposes here.  You can even use dresses as the basis for a great Medieval Crusader tunic, and NOTHING is better than a 1980's blouse with shoulder pads and a peplum to fake a great Renaissance doublet.  What's a doublet?  Look it up online, know what it is, what it looks like, then head for Goodwill.  Just be careful that your modifications are such that you don't look like you're standing there in Great Aunt Ellie's frilly blouse.  Know the look you're going for and what you need to add to or take away from a piece to achieve your look.  Trims, ribbons, buttons, even paint, can all help you pull your costume together.  It's not as hard as it sounds.  Plus--it's REALLY fun!  Honest!

One last thing to remember:  you don't actually have to wear a Medieval tunic or a kirtle and surcoat--your costume just has to look like that's what you're wearing.  If you or your mom or your grandma wants to make an costume, great.  But it's really fun and easy to take an already-made garment look like what you need, and you'll be recycling to boot.  It's the magic of theatre, and it's been done ever since man first set foot on a stage:)

Up next:  Stage Make-up and You:  Your Personal Make-up Kit and How to Use It

Can't wait to see you all next week.

Thanks,
Kim Tisdale, Coach, The Tempest

A note from Mrs. McP:

I have also attached a pattern that Kennedy Brown is using for her Iris costume. She is using something similar to the long version without wings, and I thought this would help the goddesses plan their costumes. Prom dresses with classic lines and a little tulle or flowers around the neckline would work well. Several of us met today to paint the stage and set up some of the set pieces. It is looking really neat!  I look forward to Shakespeare Camp starting next week!

Fare thee well,

Mrs. McP