Accessories & Presentation
The Hat, Shoes & Plate
I based this on a three dimensional representation of the
hat shown on the playing card and made it from stiffened red cotton with black
and white bias tape. The shoes were red ballet pumps. I found a paper plate
which had a fetching blue china style design.
The Hair and Make-up
The hair was made from carefully curled stiff yellow paper.
It is the only part of the costume that I did not retain after the presentation.
I wore limited make-up, with a drawn pencil moustache
Presentation
I am an experienced costumer and knew well that even the
best costume can be ruined by poor, or over long, presentation. I knew I need music and I knew I needed to
get full value from the reveals.
I chose a medieval tune with a good strong drum beat.
I stood with my back to the audience with the plate in my
hand. The audience could only see the blue and white back of the tabard.
I had the announcer
read out: ‘The Queen of Hearts she made some tarts all on a summer’s day; the
Knave of Hearts he stole those tarts and took them right away’, at which point
I mimed eating heartily and then threw the plate away.
The music started and I completed a half circle to pause,
full face to the audience. I had a moderate audience reaction to the front of
the tabard. I them completed the circle,
paused, undid the poppers on the tabard and let it fall.
After another brief pause (in which I had another modest
audience reaction), I turned to do another half circle to the front of the
stage, giving the audience a view of the front of the doublet and the heart
codpiece.
I had an excellent
audience reaction, with much laughter, at this point. I paused at the front
them completed my second circle to freeze in the position of the playing card
at my starting point.
Then the title was announced and I got another excellent
audience reaction.
Time always goes slowly for a performer on stage, but I doubt that I was out there for more than two or
three minutes.
Photos
(By Paul Holroyd, used with permission)
The outer layer
The under layer
I was awarded’ Best in Class (Journeyman) and must now
present any future costumes in the Master category.
This was the first appliquéd costume I have made and I am
particularly pleased with how closely it
resembles the preliminary sketches.
Until next time
Adieu