h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

All five masks required have *at least* been started.

In addition to masks I have been asked (by the props person rather than the wardrobe mistress) to make some 'clay' pipes from papier mache for the sailors.

Are the pipes going to be larger than real ones so they show up better from the audience?

No, normal size white pipes. A simpe white stem (constructed using a plastic drinking straw off a drinks carton) ending in a narrow bowl that would accommodate my little finger to the first knuckle.

I have made three, and given her one of them painted white and with a coat of matt varnish as an example to show the director.

I have also progressed with the masks, having 'embossed' some of them them by pasting on double layers of card in triangular shapes and then papered over the shapes. One has been painted white and had raised areas marked out with black. This one is currently with the wardrobe mistress, and she will be returning it with a grass skirt to dismember. The skirt will be used for making the straw wigs that need attaching to each mask to cover the heads of the women wearing the masks.

On discussing the pipe addition the wardrobe mistress went , as she had told props mistress (some months ago) that she had genuine pipes (bought for a previous production, but not used). Maybe not worth making further pipes then ...

Saw the props mistress last night and told her of the the real pipes available and *she* went "why didn't she tell me?" This obviously put me in a sticky situation, as I had left myself no wiggle room to tactfully inform the ladies, and had to say that wardrobe had told me that she *had* told props 'months ago', which props naturally hotly denied - would she have been searching for pipes if some had been offered?
Trying to smooth the waters I restated the situation - real pipes can be sourced from wardrobe, I won't make anymore papier mache ones unless needed.

Last night I also received my prototype mask back with a grass 'hula skirt'. This is composed of an elasticated waistband with yard long straw-coloured lightweight plastic strips attached. I've cut the waistband into two equal parts, and will have to work out how to hem a new piece of edging onto the lower half when I cut each of these into two shorter pieces. That will give me four 'wigs'(I hope) Five does not seem feasible from one skirt.

Have asked for more skirts to dismember and elastic for attaching to head. Also discussed remuneration.
It is awkward asking for money when you do something for pleasure, and have previously done it for nothing. It is different from doing it for your own drama group, where it is all amateur, and all chip in for the good of the group. The panto is expected to produce a significant profit for the producers.

Tallying up the hours spent (and dividing by number of masks) has allowed me to reach a ballpark figure of £150, or £30 a mask. Materials are far less of an expense. Might have to include a figure for paint, paste and varnish.

Wardrobe mistress agreed my draft of a bill for masks last night at J&H rehearsal.

Then she added that I would need to rewrite the last bit as the producer had asked for one more mask, for a masked child extra to the five adults. She had argued it would have to be one I'd already made, but I'll still have to paint, varnish and attach elastic to it before Sunday.

You'll have to get a move-on! Varnishing isn't exactly the fastest of processes...

Indeed! I really hate the smell of varnish. You have my sympathy.

I don't find varnishing too bad. Possibly because I'm using quick drying varnish - a thin coat an hour would not be problematic. The mask has had two coats already. Applying varnish is also a relative pleasure, because it takes much less finesse than applying paper or paint, so the chore is done in minutes

All masks delivered to theatre, along with bill for time and materials.

I may try to get down to theatre this week and catch photos of the actors in costume. Will also try to make time to review photos of mask production and select good representatives to post on Pimms Lettuce MSN space

Well.... It was a good pantomime , but between my delivery of the masks and their appearance on stage the producer has obviously had further thoughts, as the masks were almost unrecognisable.

I could tell by the shape that they were the same masks, but each had been recovered with a black layer and overlayed with what appeared to be a simple white card cut-out of a stylised skull. This gave all the masks a good degree of similarity, which I could have provided if that had been explicitly asked for. Disappointing . I imagine that the masks as provided, when tested in rehearsal, proved inadequate when viewed from a distance, necessitating the changes made to give a bolder "face"

I've just spoken to J, the wardrobe mistress. I started by complimenting her on the costumes, of which there were many, and all excellent. She confirmed my suspicion that the masks had not worked on stage. They proved to be too 'bright', and after asking for the lighting to be reduced several times, the point was reached when the producer realised the masks would have to change to make them less striking. Apparently he was concerned that I might be upset by this.

I'm pragmatic, he had to make the production decisions that would work, and he couldn't have realised in advance that the masks would be too prominent on stage, by which time it was too late to ask me to adapt them. Another upshot of my conversation today is that my cheque is waiting for me backstage. If I'd been told in advance I would have made an effort to pick it up when I was there

I'll make a trip later in the week.

Incidentally I had a few trying to organise the complimentary tickets one of the producers had offered. Firstly I had no contact details for any of the producers (always having gone through the wardrobe mistress), and couldn't immediately get hold of J. I had of reserving tickets with box office, in expectation of contacting producer before I needed the tickets. I booked tickets in dress circle (having been converted to these from stalls after watching a show from them recently (Peter Pan on Ice)

J when I eventually spoke to her was apprehensive about this, as usually comps are offered only for seats in the Stalls. Anyway it was only on the day of the show that I first spoke to the producer GC. Did I mention there are three? - JA (the mask requesting one and writer, playing baddie Blackbeard), GC (the comp offering one, playing goodie Sindbad) and SC (who I didn't really have much contact with, and I think was principally the choreographer).
I offered to pay difference with stalls prices, but he didn't ask for it. Getting into their run I had chosen a night with only about three rows of the Dress Circle filled, so my tickets hadn't prevented anyone getting seats.

Pimms, it's too bad about the masks, considering how much time you put into them. But at least the alteration to them wasn't just an arbitrary thing because someone didn't like them.

Masks can be seen at my MSN space http://pimmslettuce.spaces.live.com
I'm not sure the original mask designs can be recovered, as they have been painted over to make new designs with black and white matte paint.

I have the cheque

Having the check is good.

The original masks were certainly superior to the revised ones. And they looked much more authentic. You did a great job on them.

Good stuff (cheque and masks!).