In “Cinderella,” Laura Osnes changes from peasant to princess, schlumpy shoes to glass slippers, funky apron to swanky gown. So how’s this commoner emerge into a royal while onstage at the Broadway Theatre?
Said award-winning costumer William Ivey Long: “It’s a secret. I can’t reveal because it’s a secret.”
He finally squeezed out: “Low-tech magic. A two-step process. Magnets are the new Velcro. Things get pulled, stuff comes down and magnets connect.”
Whaaa? Whatthehell’s he talking about?
“Years ago, at the Mirage in Vegas, I was taught by working with Siegfried and Roy, who said: ‘The trick’s in the look. The way we do it.’ They made all seem magical, and I learned it’s pull a cord, wrap yourself one way, unwrap another way.
“ ‘Cinderella’ was lots of fittings. Fifty per garment. Then, lots of practice. Timing to the music, I’d sit at rehearsal while she worked a costume over and over a dozen times with a piano.
“The way we sew, buttons never come off. They’re good because they allow wiggle room. But buttons mostly gave way to Velcro, which gave way to magnets. Magnets hit each other, and something that’s wrapped finds its way to close instantly. It’s like a dating service for closures. Open a button, something falls down. Close with a magnet, it’s closed.
“Even when things go bonkers, it’s funny. Then it takes longer. With a conductor and stage manager monitoring the operation, they all vamp. The music vamps, violins vamp, while she goes manual. We’ve threaded a cord through the costume, around her neck and waist. She pulls, things fall down, turn inside out, and she wraps herself in the dress. The onstage action has her blown against the proscenium while eventually the transformation happens.”
I took William Ivey Long’s word for it. I couldn’t concentrate because at the time my zipper had jammed.
REMINDING Obama that Reagan used an astrologer to help with decisions, someone said: “And if you get noplace with the stars, why not go directly to God?” To which Barack replied: “Sssshh, she’s upstairs sleeping.”
A crateload of pilots are now filming in New York, NY, that helluva TV town:
NBC’s Blair Underwood remake of “Ironside” (Raymond Burr’s ’60s series) shooting at Broadway Stages . . . “Michael J. Fox Project” at Silvercup. About his life with family, career — back to work as a news anchor — and Parkinson’s . . . Amazon’s journalistic comedy “The Onion Presents: The News” with Jeffrey Tambor. Broadway Stages . . . “Alpha House” John Goodman, Mark Consuelos at Cine Magic Stages . . . CBS’s “The Ordained.” A Kennedyish son quits the priesthood and becomes a lawyer to prevent his politician sister’s assassination . . . CBS’s “Jim Gaffigan Pilot” with Mira Sorvino. Semi-autobio comedy as a married harried NYC father of five.
Based on a UK series, Bonanza Productions’ sci-fi thing “The Tomorrow People” for CW . . . At Silvercup James Spader in “The Blacklist.” Most wanted criminal turns himself in, gives everyone up, works with the FBI . . . “Believe.” Warner Brothers. Unlikely relationship twixt a young girl with supernatural gift and a felon protecting her from evil . . . ABC’s “Murder in Manhattan.” Annie Potts. Silvercup. Hourlong drama about mother and daughter amateur sleuths . . . Toni Collette, Dylan McDermott, Tate Donovan in “Hostages.” At Kaufman Astoria.
ADDING music and a singer to their Monday late nights, Le Cirque’s after-dinner cafe area is the town’s new go-to cabaret . . . Charlize Theron the latest to stick her name on behinds. In days of old it was Gloria Vanderbilt jeans. In days of now it’s Victoria Beckham’s clothes, P. Diddy’s shmattas, Katie Holmes’ whatevers and coming next Charlize’s denims.
SUNDANCE doing a theater benefit program April 8 honoring Tennessee Williams. It’s presented by this year’s non Oscar winner Sally Field . . . Carole King, her own musical based on her own life, opens B’way in 2014 . . . The Carlyle wants it known that Woody Allen, who usually toots his own horn, will continue tooting it every Monday through June 17 with the Eddy Davis New Orleans Jazz Band.
THIS column began with clothing, it’s ending with underwear.
Page Six reported Heather Thomson — who decorated that NYC Housewife thing and has her own shapewear undergarment line Yummie Tummies — is trading lawsuits with Spanx founder Sara Blakely. It’s patents, trademarks, infringements and who-ripped-off-whose control tops at 20 paces.
Thomson: “Spanx is a very rich company. Blakely has money. She’s been in Fortune magazine. Her foundation says she helps women. Well, woman to woman, I own 11 US government patents . . . She’s now sued me.
“I’ve been down this road before with another underwear company. I am not going away. We will defend ourselves.”
AT Le Cirque. A guy enjoying the cabaret in their cafe lounge: “Dumb? She’d trip over a cordless phone.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.