For a 2000 production of Curse of the Staruing Class, the technical design team adopted an old construction technique to enhance our use of the space frame flat. The design called for a set of leno-scrim flats that met at outside corners. We were concerned that the subtle watercolor-style painting technique and the nature of the material would result in an imperfect joint. After considering various methods of joining the space frames, we concluded that a fabric hinge could be incorporated into the space frame construction. Thus, the scenic artists could paint the leno-scrim as a single piece, and the two flats could be assembled and covered as one unit at load-in.

FIGURE 1: CURSE OF THE STARVING CLASS FLAT COMPONENTS

As the fabric hinge was not readily attachable to the tube steel frames, lengths of pine with a 45° bevel on one edge were cut to the length of the abutting space frame flats. Strips of heavy weight muslin (canvas could certainly be used as well) were glued to the lumber to form the hinge. The lumber pieces were then screwed to the space frames with pan head wood screws. See Figure 2.

Assembly in the theater involved laying out the space frames and bolting them together. The leno-scrim was then stapled to the ¼″ plywood nailing strips around the perimeter on the back of the frames. Finally, the whole assembly was raised and folded into place. In one operation, we had covered and raised two large adjoining flats with no seam at the corner.

FIGURE 2: FABRIC HINGE AND INSIDE STILES

FIGURE 3: FLAST IN PLAYING ORIENTATION (COVER NOT SHOWN)