Make-Up

An Autralian cast Gumby
Cassie Hanlon, the multi-award winning make up designer on the film, created 60 new designs for the musical. If you thought those in the film were big, they don’t compare with what was requested for the stage. “I had to go three or four steps bigger. And use much more glitter!” she confirms.
The obvious challenge was how to apply the different designs - which normally take up to an hour-and-a-half each to put on given the numerous quick costume changes in the show.
Hanlon at first thought it couldn’t be done. After some contemplation, and referencing the knowledge she had gained from working in the film industry for 25 years, she came up with the idea of masks.
After taking personal casts of each performers’ face, the make up designs were applied to a mask which then moulds to the face, matching individual features. With over 70 masks to be made and only three weeks to do it, the pressure and risks was immense.
“The first time we put them on in Australia,” recalls Hanlon, “Simon (Phillips) ran down the aisle in the theatre and gave me a big kiss saying ‘it’s going to work, you’re a genius!’” Hanlon remembers a similar pressure when she worked on the film. In that case the make up was done on the run, often on the day. For the musical, she and her assistants worked all day and night to get them finished in time for the Australian premiere. Hanlon, who had never worked on a stage production before, says of the first preview, “I was actually blown away, it brought tears to my eyes that teamwork could produce something so quickly and so wonderfully.”
6 comments for this entry:
by Sandy
Masks?!! Bloody brilliant! I wondered how the make-up was done with such slick, quick changes-now I know!
just love the whole thing, make-up, costumes, choreography, everything, and saving up to come & see it all again as soon as I can!
by JBStardust
Such a simple but brilliantly clever idea to use masks!! The make-up on this show is stunning, but does make my ability to put on make-up feel completely inadequate!!!
by Alliballi
January 23rd, 2010 at 12:17 am
I loved those masks and wanted one. Thought I would be able to buy one at the shop in theatre…but sadly no!!! And the glitter lippy…LOVED IT…the whole show was so amazing, and am just getting more tickets to see again :))
by Emily94
Masks…
what a genuis idea!!!
I actually adore this show…
I wish I could come and see it everyday,
I love it that much!
AMAZINGGGGG (:
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