Being a monkey is a
very physically demanding role. They are constantly moving, plus
most monkeys are also part of the ensemble and play many other roles
during the performance. Not only are they in many scenes, they have
to change in and out of their monkey costume several times.
"It's extremely demanding.
There is a lot of climbing on pieces of set, jumping off pieces
of set onto the deck, lots of flying and swinging on things," said
Davies.
Doing a part so hard
on the body requires the actors to take extra time to stretch and
they must be in great physical shape. And with eight shows a week,
they don't really have time to practice -- the performances are
enough of a workout.
"It's tricky. It was
tricky in the beginning. More so than it is now. As soon as you
get it in your body and know how it feels and kind of, then you
get excited and into it," said Davies.
To get ready for the
stage, the actors put on their flying harnesses -- then they peel
on their bodysuits. It takes them about 10 minutes to don their
masks and costumes. But during the actual performance some actors
have as little as three minutes to do a quick costume change! Once
suited up, they are ready to fly.
And away they go --
into full on monkey mode. It's unbelievable how the actors transform
so well into these creepy creatures.
"In the beginning you're
thinking about how to be a better monkey. You kind of walk down
the street and you're like (gesture). Woah. People look at you like
you're crazy. Yeah like a twitch. We call it a random act of dance
but it's all right," said Davies.
Almost as dramatic as
the flying monkey makeover is the transformation of Galina, Elpahaba
and Madame Morrible.
Shon Harper is the make-up
supervisor and only the make-up artist! He does the principle actors
but they are all trained to do their own. Each actor gets a detailed
sketch of their face which they follow.
"They are trained to
put their own makeup on. As for the principles, I do most of their
makeup. We have the bible and they have charts…so they can do their
own," said Shon Harper.
It's not as difficult
to transform into the beautiful and ditzy Galinda. Kate Reinders
also applies her own. Now, it's time for the tragically green Elphaba
--who most of us know as the wicked witch of the west.
"Hers is pretty easy.
I got it down so fast that I get it done in 15-20 minutes," said
Harper.
Although, technically
her whole body isn't really green-it's just her face and hands that
need makeup. She wears a sheer green shirt that makes her arms appear
green. But even her fingernails get a lovely green manicure.
"She stays green throughout
the whole show. But in intermission that's when she becomes older
and more mature so her makeup becomes more mature and contoured.
Done in purple and gold so it reflects more of a skin tone to the
body," said Haper.
And as you might suspect,
it's getting this green stuff OFF that is sometimes harder than
putting it on.
