Ropes Quote by Glen David Gold

“Each piece of the set was on a winch and pulley, bag-dropped, counterbalanced by nests of fifty-pound bags of sand. The setup was called a "Fairbanks," for the reason that when a stagehand so wanted, he could stand upon a knot on the rope, untie as few or as many bags of sand as he wanted, and…” quote by Glen David Gold — Download Open image

““Each piece of the set was on a winch and pulley, bag-dropped, counterbalanced by nests of fifty-pound bags of sand. The setup was called a "Fairbanks," for the reason that when a stagehand so wanted, he could stand upon a knot on the rope, untie as few or as many bags of sand as he wanted, and ride nearly to the rafters like Zorro as the scenery lowered. There was no particular reason to ride that way, but because Carter allowed it, the team of men did so all night long, trading places at the top, jumping onto the ropes and riding back down later. With the mighty Egyptian set descending in its many pieces, the audience was deprived of a behind-the-scenes tableau of beauty: Carter's team swiftly riding ropes up to the catwalk and down to the stage again, simply because they could.””

Glen David Gold

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About This Quote

A team used a flexible rig to move scenery, turning a practical task into a playful performance.

In simple terms: Creative use of tools can turn work into play.

Key Takeaway

Embrace flexibility and play in work.

Themes

creativity play collaboration innovation performance

Mood

playful energetic

Type

inspirational anecdotal

When to use this quote

theater production
project management
team building

Key Concepts

improvisation team dynamics stagecraft

Questions to Reflect On

How can playfulness improve teamwork?
When is it appropriate to prioritize fun over efficiency?

A Different Perspective

Risk of safety hazards if not properly managed.

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