[SML] Swimming Pool onstage

[Wayne Rasmussen]

Jonathan Deull wrote:

>the bottom line is that, while it may not be possible or appropriate to
make it work everywhere, it actually isn't rocket science and doesn't
necessarily require a bottomless budget.

I agree.  We did Metamorphoses a few years back with an Intex round pool
from Target that included the filter pump.  It was under $200.  The
diameter was 12' and was at least 30" high.  We didn't need quite 24" for
the set design.  I considered the pool to be a disposable item so I folded
the extra height down and screwed through it to the surrounding set to
keep it from dropping down (instead of using the inflatable top ring) and
spilling the water.  With a large quantity of extra sump pump tubing, I
was able to place the filter pump some distance from the pool, right next
to a used electric water heater my school had.  The water cycled from the
pump to the heater to the pool and back to the pump.  We ran the system 21
hours a day and got the water to nearly 90 degrees F for the shows.  The
only part I didn't figure out properly is that I wanted the interior of
the pool to be black rather than the blue of the material.  My scheme was
to put a piece of black plastic on the bottom of the pool and weight it
down around the edge.  It was not successful--those currents are strong.
We had to go swimming every day to put the plastic back in place.  I
should have painted the pool prior to filling but I worried that latex
wouldn't stick and oil base would compromise the pool membrane.

The show was in our studio theater which has vinyl tiles over a concrete
base with the Earth underneath it.  It's the only time I've appreciated
the design of that floor.

Wayne Rasmussen
Blair Academy