The Physics of Theatre

[plumtreeblossom]

For my final physics presentation (summer semester's almost over!) we are asked to present about the roles that physics play in some aspect of our lives, so I'm doing the physics of theatre. We know, of course, that physics touch absolutely everything in the physical world, and theatre is no exception. Still, I'm having to dig to come up with 5 or 6 examples that will go well in a PowerPoint.

Some possible ideas I have are: showing how gels allow stage lights (which are all white without gels) to appear to us as different colors, talking about how casters on set pieces change how much force is needed to move the set pieces, perhaps something about pulleys? Totally open to other ideas.

So far it's all backstage stuff, and what I haven't come up with is a way to show physics as they relate to actors. Yeah, I know that gravity keeps them from floating off the stage, but that's boring. I would like it to have swords or big movement in it. Any ideas, my science/theatre geek friends?

Comments

[zzbottom.livejournal.com]

It seems like there ought to be some Foley (I am probably mangling the spelling) stuff in there. You could also, maybe, mention something about raking the stage or the way seating is tiered to allow the audience to view all the action.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Those are good thoughts! I especially like the idea of the audience being teired for visibility (I've never worked on a raked stage so I don't know quite what it does).

[desireearmfeldt]

Hm, a lot of physicality on stage is kind of about faking physics -- like, in stage combat, you create the illusion of using more force than you're actually using, striking when you're not striking, etc.... Issues of sound volume and acoustics (reaching the back row without shouting)? Um... Hard to come up with examples, actually...

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Oooh, we even talked about stage slaps in class! Rolling your head with the slap minimizes the impact. And I forget what law of physics covers that, but I can look it up!

[ron_newman]

Use of mirrors and lenses in lighting effects?

[muffyjo]

Loads of physics in all kinds of areas:

Onstage:

Onstage fighting (already mentioned)

Singing (movement of air across vocal chords tensed to vibrate at different ratios to produce melodic sounds)

Curtains pulled across the stage if it has a proscenium (think of The Somerville Theater).

Use of something like silk stretched across a stage with light aimed at it to create illusions of water (with fans blowing on it across a stage) or fire (with fans blowing it up)

Smoke. If made with dry ice, it can be dangerous because it will suck up all the oxygen, which is why we tend to make smoke with particulate matter instead. Although I suppose that's more chemistry than physics.

Flying. Anytime someone flies onstage, there are all kinds of physics involved (think Peter Pan, Cats, Spider Man & Wicked).

trampolines: Think Cirque de Soleil where they slide back part of the stage and below are trampolines!

Backstage:

Scenery on pulleys in fly space above a given theatre

Lights being set at angles on bars so that the weight of the light is parallel to the bar (so where the grip happens has to have a specific tightness or it will slide due to the exertion of gravity) and it has to be balanced with the overall weight balanced on the piece of pipe hanging by chains from the ceiling.

Rolling sets, of course. Both in the case of set-pieces rolling across the stage and in the case of pieces of the stage rolling, coming up from the floor..etc.

Raking a stage is simply building a false stage over the one you have that is at an angle to the floor with it being about an inch off the ground in the front and about 1 foot to many feet up in the back (depending on the play). It gives the audience the opportunity to see more of what's happening upstage.

Illusionary things....painting things in perspective to make them lok closer/further away.

[spwebdesign.livejournal.com]

Voice projection and acoustics. The stage whisper. Obviously, the art/science of being heard from the stage has little to do with volume per se and a lot to do with resonance and the physics of vibrating air in specific ways, etc. Would allow you to talk about the Bernouli Principle.

Also, movement on stage, in its many myriad forms, is all about mechanics. Would allow you to talk about some of the discoveries Feldenkreis and/or Alexander made involving body mechanics.

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

Even though there's a lot of cheating with camera effects, this could be a fun illustration of how the laws of momentum get used (and abused) in comedy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6_QHn85cDE