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The Hobbit stage play



Lieutenant of Dol Guldur
Gondor


Oct 31 2012, 11:39am


Views: 1086
The Hobbit stage play

Hey guys as all of you I'm a huge fan of Tolkiens worlds and as every Tolkien fan I'd like to create my own vision of Middle-earth.

Since this years May I direct a stage play of The Hobbit. I also wrote the script and built the weapons and other props. Our costume designer did a great job and so did our construction manager or the make up departement. First of all I have to say that it is a so called "panto" (a stage play for children shortly before the christmas time). Our youngest actors are only four years old (playing young hobbits) and our oldest ones are fourty-five (playing Bombur and the Great Goblin). I am voicing Smaug.

I made a lot of script-changes to make The Hobbit easier to follow for children and easier for us to create it but not to lose the essence of Tolkiens story. For example there are only 5 dwarves instead of 13. Our stage is not that big to be honest. We've got Thorin (the leader), Gloin (the pessimist), Bombur (the fat one), Kili (the thrillseeker) and Fili (the poet). Every dwarf has got his own personality to be easy identifiable for the children. There are no trolls or spiders (just mentioned by Gandalf or Thorin). The wargs do not appear in person but can be heard. The role of the orcs/goblins is expanded. The Great Goblin (here called Azog) and his fellow orcs Baruk, Thagra and Krushakh got their own personalities aswell to be scary but also identifiable. Because in our theater group you'll find a lot of actresses and The Hobbit is a bit... men-heavy... I had to change the part of Elrond into an elven Lady (here called Galadriel). Lake Town, Bard and the BOFA were cancelled too. Because of that it is Bilbo who kills Smaug with a golden Arrow which he founds in the treasure after making a deal with Smaug: He reveals himself (without the ring) and Smaug reveals his weak point. Instead of the BOFA I wrote a confrontation between Elves, Orcs and Dwarves after Smaugs defeat. Together Elves and Dwarves can defeat the Orcs but afterwards they dispute about the treasure till Gandalf and Galadriel can convince them that sharing with his friends is better than take all of it for himself (Here you've got the message for the children). The last scene is Bilbos return to Bag End with Frodo, Sam and Rosie already waiting for him. Finally it knocks at the door (like in the very first scene) and Gandalf enters with the Dwarves for tea time so the circle is complete.

Here our character list:

Hobbits of the Shire:
Bilbo Baggins, Frodo Baggins, Sam and Rosie

Dwarves of Thorins Company:
Thorin Oakenshield, Gloin, Bombur, Kili and Fili

Elves of the Woods:
Galadriel, Elwing the queens ambassador, Dingir, Arwen, Lauriel, Evanin

Orcs of the Misty Mountains:
Azog the Great, Thagra, Baruk, Kruschakh

Others:
Gollum/Smeagol, Gandalf the Wizard, Smaug the Dragon

Our timeline:
We started rehearsing in this years May and our play premiers 4 days before the world premier of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Its first and foremost for children but also for their parents. We'll have 6 performances so it's not a big thing but I finally got the chance to create my own small version of Middle-earth.

There are already three (of five) Making Of Videos online, altough it is German you might be interested in it:

Making of The Hobbit Part One: First rehearsal, hopes of the cast and crew, start of production

Making of The Hobbit Part Two: Costume Design, Construction Management, Make Up

Making of The Hobbit Part Three: End of rehearsal block 2 of 3, Music, rehearsal weekend

!BUT ALL IN GERMAN!


"There is only one Lord of the Ring, only one who can bend it to his will. And he does not share power."

(This post was edited by Lieutenant of Dol Guldur on Oct 31 2012, 11:46am)


grammaboodawg
Immortal


Nov 12 2012, 7:45pm


Views: 572
This is wonderful!!! Welcome to TORn! :)

How I wish I could have seen this! My small farming town did a very modest variation of The Hobbit on the stage with the local players... mostly children. Gandalf and the Trolls were the only "grownups" in the cast.

Your production is so inspired! I can't imagine the work you put into it and the long hours refining it and bringing it to life. What a thrill!!!

I'm going to read through all of this once again, but I wanted to stop and say WELL DONE!!! And thank you so much for sharing this! You should be very proud!



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I really need these new films to take me back to, and not re-introduce me to, that magical world.



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Lieutenant of Dol Guldur
Gondor


Nov 12 2012, 10:25pm


Views: 929
Thank you so much!

Thank you so much! If you're interested, here is our teaser trailer (but also in German):

Trailer - Stage play "The Hobbit"


Of course we're going to play it on a stage and not outside but the trailer gives you a first look at our costumes, props and some of the constructions.


"There is only one Lord of the Ring, only one who can bend it to his will. And he does not share power."

(This post was edited by Lieutenant of Dol Guldur on Nov 12 2012, 10:26pm)