Chosen for their flexibility, the Source Four Revolutions, each with a shutter module, were specified by lighting designer Howard Harrison and supplied by Stage Electrics. Because the production's elaborate scenery limited its lighting positions, Harrison opted to use an automated rig, including the Revolutions, to ensure that each position could be worked to its full potential. The S4 Revolutions also appealed to the stringent acoustic demands of Richard Eyre, reportedly the most noise-sensitive director around. The Revolutions were commissioned specifically because of their ability to run quietly.
Boasting the Quick eXchange Lamp (QXL), the Revolutions also provide the rich colour rendering and warm tones of an incandescent source, which are key to many scenes in the show. "The Source Four Revolutions have matured with the show; it was a promising product when we began, and one that delivered on those promises by the time we finished," said Mary Poppins' lighting programmer, Rob Halliday. "Even when we had teething problems early on, ETC were fantastic at supporting us - something which sets them apart from many other manufacturers."
A full review of Mary Poppins appears in the January 2005 issue of Lighting&Sound International magazine.
(Lee Baldock)
