From monkey costumes to elaborate ball gowns, Diane Madill has sewn it all.
As one of Langham Court TheatreB次元官网网址檚 costume designers, she has, for half a dozen years now, been integral in bringing to life the visual aspects of the theatre companyB次元官网网址檚 productions on stage.
And even though her task at hand for Langham CourtB次元官网网址檚 upcoming production of Oscar WildeB次元官网网址檚 Lady WindermereB次元官网网址檚 Fan was daunting, sheB次元官网网址檚 had greater challenges.
B次元官网网址淭o do a play like this, where youB次元官网网址檙e not coping with (the movements of actors) singing and dancing, it isnB次元官网网址檛 as challenging in some ways,B次元官网网址� Madill said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 still challenging and itB次元官网网址檚 a lot of work, but itB次元官网网址檚 quite doable.B次元官网网址�
The retired high school teacher B次元官网网址� she taught fashion studies, and helped make the costumes for school plays B次元官网网址� says the biggest challenge in costuming for Lady WindermereB次元官网网址檚 Fan is the scope and wide range of intricate costumes and pieces that are needed.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 24 in the cast. ThereB次元官网网址檚 13 ball gowns and then thereB次元官网网址檚 day outfits as well, which are just as labour intensive,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ecause of the period, there are hats and fans, very elaborate hair accessories, jewelry, the gloves, the crinolines. B次元官网网址� And then thereB次元官网网址檚 all the little details in these: the beadwork and rows and ruffles.B次元官网网址�
Set in the late 1800s and early 1900s B次元官网网址� the late Victorian, early Edwardian eras B次元官网网址� Madill and fellow costume designer Susan Ferguson had to design most of the period-accurate costumes for the play from scratch.
MadillB次元官网网址檚 work began last winter, when she first read the play, then she made a spreadsheet of all the characters in each scene and how long theyB次元官网网址檙e on stage. It helps her organize the needs of each character and what is required of each costume.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the way my mind works. I can look at a spreadsheet and I can see how many costumes each person needs, how quick a characterB次元官网网址檚 (costume) changes are, and so you know whoB次元官网网址檚 on stage together at one time, because itB次元官网网址檚 important for colour and working a palette,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 like to do a play where youB次元官网网址檙e actually designing things from scratch with piles of fabric.B次元官网网址�
A release from Langham Court describes Lady WindermereB次元官网网址檚 Fan as an exploration of B次元官网网址渏ust how horrid High Society could be behind the scenes.
B次元官网网址淪et in a world where social graces and proper behaviour are all it takes to make-or-break oneB次元官网网址檚 social-place B次元官网网址� Oscar Wilde uses his acerbic wit and British humour to comment on the strident rules that govern LondonB次元官网网址檚 1890s High Society.B次元官网网址�
Lady WindermereB次元官网网址檚 Fan runs nightly (8 p.m.) at Langham Court Theatre (805 Langham Crt.) from Nov. 22 to Dec. 8. There are also matinees on Dec. 1 and Dec. 8 at 2 p.m.
Tickets ($21 for adults, $19 for students and seniors) are available online at Langhamtheatre.ca, in person at the box office, or by calling 250-384-2142.
