...You need what for this show?

On occasion, we enter a prop project knowing it will likely require more than one take. This spring, UF's production of The Grapes of Wrath required a life-size dummy. (I'm trying not to spoil the storyline.)

The shop began with Dummy 1.0. Ann and I tagged teamed this one. We knew the actors would discover the requirements of this prop as they started rehearsing with it. So we found an empty suit in the shop. (No worries, we have more around. I would recommend checking with the TD before you take safety equipment!) We stuffed the suit with styrofoam and rubber mulch. And a bit of tape for shaping.

We 'dressed' the dummy with some clothes from the prop room. 

(Though Twinkie pants are not period, Twinkies were a hit in the Great Depression.)

And so Dummy 1.0 was released to rehearsal. The first realization: the dummy needed to be unloaded from the back of the family truck. There were already 7 people in the back for this scene, so our dummy was going to need to sit and blend in. 

I started Dummy 2.0 Know he needed to be a bit closer to a real boy. I channeled my inner Gepetto.

Dummy 2.0 had hinges joints at the knees and hips. He could sit and be carried comfortably.

The wooden form was covered in fabric from packing blankets. Shoes were also attached. The dummy was wrapped in a quilt for the show, but we had to keep the Twinkie pants.

Dummy 2.0 was not kept after the production. He was scaring people as they walked into prop storage.