BUGSY MALONE COSTUMES
Finding Costumes- Top Tips and Ideas This power point outlines the costume requirements for each character in the production including the chorus groups. I've also added images to provide a flavour of what each character may look like- but please do not feel you have to replicate them exactly! We would really appreciate as much help as possible from you to find the costumes listed. Some of the more specialist outfits will either be made specially or provided from our costume stock. If this is the case I will let your child know. You may be more than one character, but that does not necessarily mean you need lots of different outfits. It is much better they have one core costume which can be embellished and added to depending on the scene. Please do not spend a lot of money on items- charity shops are great and even ready made costumes can be reasonably priced and there are lots of online stockists of children's fancy dress. We may also add to or embellish costumes that come in, so please do not bring something that is precious to you or valuable! We also have a lot of costumes collected and made from previous productions and we will arrange a couple of drop in sessions, where you can come and look for missing items or just to add that finishing touch to a costume. Please try to get your costume organised for the first week after half term- there may be a press shoot onfriday 8 June, so we will need most costumes ready for then. When the time comes to bring costumes in can they please come in a sturdy, labelled bag, and please label each item with your name.
Costume Schedule 11 May- Costume meeting and power point 14, 15 and 18 May- Pupil costume drop in. Block hall 1:05pm-1:45pm for any questions or help. 22 May- Afterschool costume drop. Venue TBC 3:30pm- 4:30pm. Parents welcome. HALF TERM-26 May-1 June- FIND COSTUMES!! 8 June- All costumes should be ready, bagged and labelled. Possible press shoot at Merlin.
The Background Life in the 1920s in New York City was exciting, to say the least. At the beginning of the Jazz Age, people were flush with money, dance music was blaring from every open window and underground club, and strange things were happening all over the city. There was probably a speakeasy in your neighbourhood, and you were eating a roast ham on every Sunday night. Despite the onset of Prohibition, there were no inhibitions, and people danced until they dropped every night of the week.
The Look
Men The look- Basic Costume Ideas Women Suits- pinstripe, plain or tweedy, wide, baggy trousers, woollen cardigans, waistcoats or tank tops also suitable. Coats- Long trench coats or Macs, woollen great coats Hats- Fedoras, trilbies, straw boaters Ties- Bow ties or wide ties, can be colourful Footwear- dark shoes or boots Dresses- 1920 s style, dropped waist, unfitted style. Or blouses and skirts in similar style. Other tops- hip length cardigans or jackets, fur or feather scarves and boas. Flesh coloured tights Shoes- Mary Jane style or simple pumps Accessories- long beads, cluch bags, cloche hats and headbands.
More Ideas
Girl's hairmainly short bobs, but low buns and pinned up plaits will be fine. Hair & Make up Boy s hair- Very neat and tidy-combed back and waxed or gelled into place. Partings and quiffs. Make up- pale faces with rosy cheeks, dark eyes and bright lipstick. Quite doll-like.
Bugsy Malone and Blousey Brown Dark suitcould be pinstripe Pale shirt Wide tie Trilby or fedora Dark shoes Coat- optional- Long, Tweed or similar. 20 s style dress or blouse and skirt Coat or Jacket Cloche Hat (could be provided) Dark shoes Beads, scarf
Tallulah and Fat Sam Shift style dress Flesh coloured tights Dance shoes or pumps. Cloche hat or hairband/clip etc. Other accessories could include- fur or feather stole or coat. Scarf, beads. Dark pinstripe suit, pale shirt and wide, colourful tie Long coat Dark shoes
Fat Sam s Gang- Fedoras or trilbys Dark/pinstripe suits- or waistcoats and trousers Pale shirts Wide ties Dark shoes The Gangs Dame Dan s To be provided- Red shirts Black trilbys White braces WhiteTies Black trousers Dark glasses Dark shoes or boots
Dame Dan, Lew and Radio Announcer Dame Dan- Femme Fatale Dark- Red or Black dress Black/red hat or headdress Flesh coloured tights Mary Jane shoes Beads, gloves, fur. Lew- Dame Dan s man Smart, dapper outfit Smoking jacket Radio Announcer- Smartly dressed and tidy.
Tallulah s Girls and Show Girls Loretta, Tillie, Dotty, Bangles, Velma... Plus all show girl dancers Main costumes to be provided Other accessories Dance shoes or pumps Flesh coloured tights Accessories- scarves, boas, fur, hats dependant on your scenes- see pages 5-8
Seymour Scoop and reporters Seymour Scoop- Tweed or patterned suit Trilby Plain shirt Wide tie Long trench coat Dark shoes or boots Other reporters- Various costumes depending on role and nationalitysee me for help...
O Dreary and Smolsky Hatprovided Dark jacket with buttonscould be provided Dark trouser and shoes or boots. Dark suit or jacket and trousers Pale shirt Wide tie Trench coat Trilby Dark shoes
Fizzy and Speakeasy Scene Fizzy- Scruffy pale shirt Wide, dark trousers Braces Cap Boots Staff will be provided with aprons and hats Customers- Refer to Pages 5-7 for more ideas...
Audition Scene Many of these costumes can be provided... See me! Oscar De Velt- smartly dressed, jacket or tank top. Lena Marelli- glitsy 20 s gown, fur stole, headband/hat Singer- long flowing dress Ventriloquist- jazzy suit/dress Magician- Black tail coat white shirt, top hat, cape Laundry Scene Chinese hats, tops and props- All to be provided
Down and Outs and Boxers Down and outs Baggy and scruffy coats, shirts and trousers, boots, caps, scarves, waistcoats. Boxers and Cagey Joe White or pale vests Baggy longish shorts- PLEASE NO PE SHORTS Dark boots or shoes Wide belts
Other small characters Roxy Robinson, Flash Frankie, Pop Becker, Loony Bergonzi, Clipboard Willie, Pickett, Leroy. Maitre D, Butler, Violinist, Cellist. Paper boy, Barber, Undertakers. Priest and cooks. Chauffeur, delivery guys. Baseball guards. For most of the above extra items of costumes can be provided to add to your existing costumes, however please try to find your own if possible! See me for help...