CAMELOT Theatrical Special Effects

I was just reading a blog regarding another production of "Oklahoma" in which the author stated that "The Little Wonder" gag was cut from the show because they couldn't find a suitable prop!

For those who don't know the show (is there anyone?) the "Little Wonder" is really the only suspenseful gag in the entire show. It's a kaleidoscope-like tube with pictures of naked women inside that Will innocently buys in Kansas City and passes around for all the boys, and Aunt Eller, to peep into and be amazed. We learn later from the villain, Judd Fry, that it's actually a deadly weapon containing a switchblade knife and then, when he buys it from Will, he comes close to murdering Curly with it. That's too cool of a gag to eliminate since it's pretty much the only exciting part of the entire show.

The part that probably throws most propmasters is the "switchblade" mechanism. What a special effects designer sees, though, is that having a retractable blade is a mere matter of centrifugal force and gravity. Here's the way I built it. In use, the actor simply holds it slotted-end up until "the moment" then merely swings it horizontally with a wrist snap. Wham - knife pops out. Tap it on the palm of the other hand and wham - the blade retracts. I made two of them, one with a knife inside and one without so the cowboys can hold that one up to their eyes without going blind in the process. The rest of the show will make you blind.

posted by C. J. # 3:00 PM