All in the Timing

"What if?” is a thematic question David Ives’ All in the Timing playfully asks. Exploring alternatives, chance, and timing in six short scenes. These humorous plays have few production requirements, providing a unique opportunity. Design and engineer something that attempts to parallel these same themes. For this production we chose to design a Rube Goldberg machine that would start the show. A complex machine engineered to perform a simple task.

Production Photos

Photos were taken at the second to last dress rehearsal by myself.

Budget

$1000

Rendering

The design was inspired by the surrealist paintings of Magritte.

Design Period

Two Weeks

Build and Tech Period

Five Weeks

Rube Goldberg Order of Operations

1. An actor lifts and swings the first bowling ball in Newton’s cradle.
2. The bowling balls trigger lever arms which fall on typewriter keys.
3. Each arm triggers another until the final lever, a pick axe pops a balloon.
4. The popped balloon allows a counter-weighted door to close.
5. A brush on the door triggers a wall of dominos.
6. The final domino turns off switch on electromagnet.
7. The electromagnet releases umbrellas that fall and release a truck down a ramp.
8. The first truck goes down a ramp and onto a sled. Its momentum allows the sled to fall and then the truck rolls backward.
9. That truck hits a lever which triggers another truck.
10. That second truck hits a lever which triggers a Tonka skid steer.
11. The skid steer rolls down and tips a watering can pouring water down a gutter.
12. The water goes into a funnel and down a tube into a sprinkler head.
13. The water puts out a candle.