Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 1986 - 32

BOOK REVIEWS

Scene Technology

by Richard L. Arnold. Englewood Cliffs,
ew Jersey:
Prentice-Hall,
Inc.,
1985.
ISB
0-13-791765-1,343 pp., ill., 526.95 cloth.

Scene Technology, by Richard Arnold,
discusses rhe varied 1001s, techniques, and
marerials used by technicians who provide
physical form 10 a design idea. Ideally
sui red 10 the scenic consrrucrion worker,
this work is also of major interesr 10 the designer, who may derive additional inspirarion afrer perusing this book.
The author displays a firm understanding of rhe role of technology in scene design
from rhe very beginning of rhe book. In
Chaprer One, Arnold defines modern design pracrice as a "rich mixture of styles and
forms ofren creared wirh the aid of new rechnical marerials and mechanical devices."
Therefore, he embraces rhe broader concepr
of scenery as scenography, or rarher, all of
the audio-visual devices required to unify
the scene. Alrhough the main focus is on rhe
more rradirional elements of scenic technology, rhe aurhor has included some information on ound and lighting effects.
Through examples derived from theatre and
film, as well as such varied performance
spaces as rheme parks, Arnold shows rhe increasing applicarion of rechnology in scene
design.
After a chapter on scenic drawing and
one on safery and healrh, Arnold proceeds
ro rhe construction materials. In Chaprer
Four, "Basic Crafrs," rhe aurhor defines
rhe actual skills required for working with
wood, paper, fiber, fabric, meral, and plastics. His rext is abundantly illusrrared with
line drawings which, in the case of woodworking, show a mulrirude of ways 10 join
rhe material. There are pages upon pages of
helpful informarion as well as photographs
regarding such ropics as arc welding meral,
vacuum forming plasrics, and sewing fabric.
Forming these basic materials inlO scenery is approached in rhe nexr rI"o chaprers.
In "Two Dimensional Scenery," rhe aurhor
deals wirh f1ars and backdrops, and in
"Three Dimensional Scenery" he covers
such subjects as construcring platforms,
suspending a realistic ceiling, mounting a
door, and building a window unil.
In the chaprer ritled "Scene Painting,"
rhe aurhor gives a thorough descriprion of
rhe necessary rools and equipmenl. However, with its black and whire illusrrarions,
rhis secrion lacks the visual clarity rhat a few
color plares could provide. His very brief
30

Theatre ()e,ign &

TedlllOlllg~

descriprion of color mixing is placed at the
end of the chapter bur it could betrer serve
rhe reader if ir were placed ar rhe beginning.
In Chaprer Eighr, "The Stage Facility"
(a chapter rhar would fir equally well 10ward rhe beginning of rhe book), rhe aurhor
ourlines rhe rradirional forms which a performance pace rakes, as well as rhe machinery which is usually insralled in them.
He follows with rhe chaprers "Scene Assembly and Rigging, and Shifting," "Propenies," and "Special Effects." Given Arnold's consrant emphasis on safery, ir is curious thar he wairs until his final chaprer 10
discuss rhe topic of "Shop Organization
and Managemenl."
An exrremely useful contribution 10 rhis
collection is rhe bibliography which is included at rhe end of every chaprer. In this
way rhe aurhor allemprs 10 solve the obvious problem of not being able to include all
informarion on a given topic. For example,
rhere is dara on laser rechnology and CAD
(computer aided design) systems for drawing, bur it is minimal and rhe reader will
have ro use rhe list of references 10 pursue
funher research.
This book is ser apan from similar
books by rhe author's broad view of scenic
rechnology. His addition of lighring effecrs
and projecrion rechniques is only one example of his contemporary approach. In
addition, rhe writing sryle is unassuming
and easy for a novice 10 undersrand. For
rhese reasons, rhis book can be recommended as an excellent reference rexr for rhe
student, reacher, or professional.
C
Tom Mikotowicl
ew York City

Fans

by Helene Alexander. London: B. T.
Barsford Lrd., 1984. ISB 0-7134-4276-X,
96 pp., illus., 513.95 clorh.

Jewellery

by Diana Scarisbrick. London: B.T. Barsford Ltd., 1984. ISB
0-7134-4278-6,96 pp., illus., $13.95 clorh.

The Cosrume Accessories Series, edired
by Dr. Aileen Ribero and disrributed in rhe
.S. by Drama Book Specialisrs, is a group
of six illustrared and specialized books in
rhe field of cosrume design. In addirion ro
Fans and Jewellery, rhe series includes Shoes
by June Swann and Bags and Purses by
Vanda Foster (both reviewed in TD&T, Fall

SITT Spring 1986

Editor: T. Mikotowicl

1983), and Gloves by Valerie Cumming
and Hals by Fiona Clark. Judging from rh
rwo books reviewed, each aurhor is an e~
pen on her subject and presents a hislOry c
rhe accessory's use from rhe beginning c
rhe 17rh century 10 rhe presenl. Emphasis i
placed on styles of fashion and how rhey in
f1uenced rhese accessories. The books ar
filled wirh black and whire plares and in
clude several color illustrarions giving ex
amples of rhe accessory and how ir wa
worn 10 complement or accent contempo
rary fashions. Ar rhe back of each book i
a glossary of imponant rerms essential fo
undersranding rhe author's descriptions.
Fans gives a hislOry of rhis now obsoler
fashion acces ory, exploring nor only rh
types of fans popular since the 17rh centur
but how rhey were manufacrured and hOI
rhey were used by rheir owner. Both texruC'
descriptions and exrensive illusrrarion sho\
fans made of feathers placed in holden
puzzle and circular or cockade fans, and th
more widely used folded fan made out 0
lace, painted clorh, animal skin or printe l
paper. There are numerous examples of rh
breadrh of subject mailer painted on fans
myrhs, hislOrical events, srreer scenes, land
scapes and floral designs. The book care
fully points our rhar fans were unique in rha
rhey did nor have 10 march a lady's gowl
nor were rhey subjecr 10 the stigma allachel
10 second-hand clothing or out-of-dar
fashions. For the designer interesred in hOI
fans are made, picrures and descriprion
from Dideror 's Encyc!opedie as well as pho
tographs of fan molds and other fan makin:
tools are exrremely helpful. Dramarurg
and actresses will find Ms. Alexander's il
lu rrations of correcr fan usage, includin;
proper posirions for holding fans, a help
ful guide 10 authentic gesture using rhi
accessory.
Jewellery covers the role of this acces
sory since rhe 17rh cent ury. Ir views jewelr)
as well as bUllon, buckle, and clasp, as or
namenl. The srrongesr poinr made in rh
book is rhe connection between rhe funcriol
of jewelry and fashion. For example, ;
square or low cut neckline would be filled il
wirh necklaces or irs lines accented b:
jeweled clips or brooches; profusions 0
ruffle and flounces of a 17th-century gOW!
would be decorated wirh pearls or gems li
our line the seam or 10 hold folds in place
exposed ears would flaunt earrings; and rh
high-piled hairstyles of rhe 18th centur:
continuer! on page 33 ...

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 1986