TEXT D Pageants are usually
conceived on a fairly large scale, often under the auspices of some local or
civic authority or at any rate in connection with local groups of some kind.
This sometimes means that there is an allocation of funds available for the
purpose of mounting the production, though unfortunately this will usually be
found to be on the meager side and much ingenuity will have to be used to
stretch it so that all performers can be adequately clothed.
Most pageants have a historical flavor as they usually come about through
the celebration of the anniversary of some event of historic importance, or the
life or death of some local worthy. Research among archives and books in the
public library will probably prove very useful and produce some workable ideas
which will give the production an especially local flavor. From the first
economy will have to be practiced because there are usually a great number of
people to dress. Leading characters can be considered individually in the same
way as when designing for a play; but the main body of the performers will need
to be planned in groups and the massed effect must be always borne in
mind. Many pageants take place in daylight in the open air. This
is an entirely different problem from designing costumes which are going to be
looked at under artificial lighting; for one thing, scenes viewed in the
daylight are subject to many more distractions. No longer is everything around
cut out by the surrounding darkness, but instead it is very easy to be aware of
disturbing movement in the audience of behind the performers. Very theatrically
conceived clothes do not always look their best when seen in a daylight setting
of trees, verdant lawns and old ivy-covered walls; the same goes for costumes
being worn in front of the mellow colors of stately homes. The location needs to
be studied and then a decision can be made as to what kinds of colors and
textures will harmonize best with the surroundings and conditions and then to
carry this out as far as possible on the funds available. If
money is available to dress the performers without recourse to their own help in
the provision of items, it is best to arrange for all the cutting and pinning
together of the costumes to be done by one or two experienced people than to be
given out to the groups and individuals for completion. When there is little or
no money at all, the garments need to be reduced to the basic necessities.
Cloaks and shawls become invaluable, sheets and large bath towels and bath
sheets are admirable for draping. Unwanted curtains and bed spreads, can be cut
to make tunics, robes and skirts. These are particularly valuable if they are of
heavy fabrics such as velvet or chenille. Colors should be
massed together so that there are contrasting groups of dark and light, this
will be found to help the visual result substantially. Crowds of people gathered
together in a jumble of colors will be ground to look quite purposeless and will
lack dramatic impact. The uses of numbers of identical
head-dresses, however simply made, are always effective when working with
groups. If these are made of cardboard and painted boldly the cost can be almost
negligible. Helmets, hats and plumes will all make quite a show even if the
costumes are only blandest or sheets cleverly draped. The same can be said of
the use of banners, shields and poles with stiff pennants and garlands—anything
which will help to have a unifying effect. Any kind of eye-catching device will
always go with a flourish and add excitement to the scenes. It can be inferred that the most important factor in costume design is ______.