IN WATERMELON SUGAR - Reviews

IN WATERMELON SUGAR - Production Photos

And finally, here are some photos from my recent design work for IN WATERMELON SUGAR at The Hip Pocket Theatre. All photos taken by Robert Bourdage.

Set, Costume & Puppet Design by James Maynard.
Lighting Design by Nikki De Shea Smith.
Scenic Carpentry by Bob Bourdage.
Scenic Artist Sam Silva.
Costume Construction by Rebo Hill & Lauren Moreau.

IN WATERMELON SUGAR - Costume Designs

Here are my sketches for costume designs for the current production of IN WATERMELON SUGAR by Richard Brautigan being performed at The Hip Pocket Theatre in Fort Worth, Texas in July 2017.

IN WATERMELON SUGAR - Hip Pocket Theatre - July 2017

Well, never say never again! Early in 2017 I was approached to design one more production for my old alma mater, The Hip Pocket Theatre. And since it was to be a revival of the first show I had done for them back in 1977, I agreed with some trepidation. I never enjoy repeating myself and always try not to do so. My friend John Murphy helped to convince me that this version of Richard Brautigan's IN WATERMELON SUGAR would be totally new and fresh and I have answered the call to help him make that a reality on stage.

I designed puppets for the first production of this play back in 1977, and did the set design for a revival in 1986 ( with costume design by Diane Simons ).

This time out the play is being presented in the Theatre's current outdoor amphitheatre in Fort Worth, Texas. I designed an all new set, costumes and puppets for this new version. With massive amounts of help from the eager young cast and crew, I am happy to say that this final design work of mine was brought beautifully to life.

These photos show the scale model which I created to assist John Murphy in staging the play. We were only able to have access to the stage for two weeks prior to opening the play, and so this model proved invaluable in helping the cast and crew envision how the set would look and the space they would be inhabiting once the full set could be put in place.

Set Model for GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933 (unproduced)

Here are some photographs of a design I did for a stage version of this classic Warner Brothers movie. Sadly this was never produced, but I thought that the design might be of interest.

Two revolving set units on either side of the stage represent the backstage area of a Broadway theatre. The only physical props used are a rolling piano and two bentwood chairs. The low wall at center back acts as a puppeteer's bridge during the musical numbers and a slide screen positioned above the stage area presets stills and film clips as a background during scenes.

Here the revolving units are in place for the second musical number in the show. The design mimics a classic Animal Crackers box which the heroine is seen holding as the number begins. The set revolves during the number with the Monkey cage piece brought in for marionette monkeys used in the number. The two girls in blue are mimicking the polka dot clowns from the cracker box top. Projections from the 1930's cartoon version of PETTIN' IN THE PARK.

The finale musical number. Again the revolving units with swing out panels from the background. Projections of the Busby berkley overhead shots from the film on the screen above. Marionette "showgirls" fill out the chorus as the principles perform the number on stage.

I was particularly fond of this concept for a show but was unable to sell it to the artistic director of the theatre company I worked for at the time. Ah well.....