Philips Vari-Lite VL4000 adds to Circus spectacle
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Lighting designer Paul Smith utilised the dual functionality of the VL4000 BeamWash to fulfil two important lighting roles from a single unit. He says, "The VL4000 BeamWash performs well as a wash, and as a spot too - much better than I ever expected a hybrid fixture like this to perform."
With life-size mother and baby elephant puppets central to the show, floor space was at a premium. The mother elephant alone has four puppeteers inside. This gave Smith a challenge. "The BeamWashes have helped me to reduce the number of units I need in the low side positions," he says. "Previously, I had a VL3500 Wash and a VL3500 Spot in the same area, but as space was tight I opted for the hybrid. I've not been disappointed. The producers are happy that I've been able to cut fixtures and the director is happy we are delivering the best possible audience experience."
Also playing their part in creating this magical Circus environment were Philips Vari-Lite VL4000 Spot luminaires. "The Spots have been particularly useful for their framing shutters, the theatre-friendly gobo selection and the massive zoom range," says Smith.
And uniting both fixtures is the r Philips Vari-Lite colour capability. Smith says, "We have two very different colour palettes in this show. Act One has an external setting with muted pastels and straw colours; Act Two places the action within the circus tent, with saturated colours and bold contrasts. Having two fixtures from the same family is a big time-saver. The consistency and quality of the colour across the units - pastels and saturates - makes all the difference."
The spectacular show, which first played at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, will appear at London's Royal Festival Hall later this year.
(Jim Evans)
