Giant heads, large protruding noses and grotesque faces will soon be gracing a stage near you. These detailed works of art are adding imagination and create a stylized world in the upcoming West Virginia University School of Theatre & Dance production of “The Visit.”
“The Visit” by Friedrich Durrenmatt is a dark comedy about a rich woman, Madame Zachanassian, who returns to her hometown for revenge. She will contribute $1 billion to the impoverished town if someone kills the man who “done her wrong” so many years before.
The costume department approached this play in a completely different way than ever before, playing on the dark and gloomy aspects of the play to create the bizarre and distorted faces seen on stage.
WVU Associate Professor of Costume Design Mary McClung designed all the masks featured in the play, including six giant masks and about 15 smaller ones.
“Masks are so great because they can completely change an actor,” McClung said. “It becomes helpful when there are about 25 to 30 characters in the play, so there’s a need to switch between characters.”
The one downside to creating so many masks is that it’s time-consuming.
First, a cast is made from each actor’s head. Clay is then sculpted on top of the head cast to create a mold. Latex is painted inside the mold. Then, expandable foam called Polyfoam fills the rest of the space to create the details of the face.
Once cured, the mask can be removed from the mold. Each mask is smoothed by trimming the edges and then painted.
The process all becomes worth it when the final product is finally seen in action.
“The masks custom-fit the actors and conform to their faces so they literally move when they talk,” said McClung.
This isn’t McClung’s first time using the masks. It’s one of her many talents, as she has designed costumes, puppets and sets for theater, video and TV. The companies include Disney, Children’s Television Workshop, Universal Studios, Dallas Children’s Theatre, The Idaho Repertory Theatre and The Colorado Shakespeare Festival.
McClung now uses her expertise to teach students the craft of costume design.
Andy Swisher, a sophomore design tech student with a focus on makeup and costume crafts, is one of the many students lending a hand to making the masks. He also helped make the prosthetics used in last semester’s play, “The Crucible.”
“So far I’ve learned a lot, like how to cast full-head masks instead of just half-masks,” said Swisher. “Working with Mary is great since she’s so enthusiastic and passionate about her work. She’s the reason I’m here at WVU.”
“The Visit” opens Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Gladys G. Davis Theatre in the Creative Arts Center.
Tickets are on sale at the WVU Box Office and by phone at 304-293-SHOW.
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CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu
Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.