There is a scene in the movie “This is Spinal Tap” when they reveal a new set piece for their tour. It is supposed to be Stone Henge with Druid worshipers dancing around it.
The Stone Henge set is lowered onto the stage with very dramatic music. However, since a groupie designed it on a cocktail napkin, instead of the set piece being 30’ feet tall t is actually 30” inches tall. The next night they use midgets to dance as Druids to help with the proportions.
This morning our designer wrote that the new set would have to be 80% smaller than Broadway to fit the London stage. I am suddenly envisioning a Muppet stage and me as Goliath frightening a diminutive village of wooden children. Or perhaps I would have to do the show on my knees. It was an interesting mental adjustment.
Not so. The new set is actually only 20% smaller. The proportion was supposed to be stated as 80% OF the Broadway set. Wheww!
Very exciting. New set, new theatre, new town. TAO London is almost here.
As you were,
Jay
Hi Jay;
ReplyDelete80% smaller? I picture you on a stage filled with lunch boxes instead of suitcases. Best of luck in London.
Bob Conrad
It's funny how that works, the difference between "percent of" and "percent off." "Percent off" is so commonly used in retail that it becomes commonplace elsewhere as well, despite the fact that it makes things more confusing. I suppose they use it because taking things away sounds better than just multiplying by a percentage.
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