On the Nature of Magic by Marian Womack

Author:Marian Womack [Womack, Marian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags:  
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

7

THE GLASS DOLL HOUSE

20th March – Morning

The Glass Doll House looked more like a giant greenhouse than a movie studio. It was erected on the Méliès family property at Montreuil, just outside of Paris. Alice had given Eliza the general description. Seventeen metres long, six metres wide and six metres high, these specific measurements were identical to Méliès’s theatre, and equipped with movable panels, trap doors, ramps, pulleys, cranes, even sets. Still Eliza had not expected this, even after hearing descriptions of ‘an oversized orangery’. It looked slightly unreal, as if the glass structure could collapse at any moment. According to Alice, it was built like this to allow as much light in as possible.

‘He has no artificial lighting, except in the workshop areas; nothing to illuminate the scenes. He only uses daylight.’ It seemed, however, that Méliès had decided that the Doll House wasn’t enough to create his elaborate illusions. ‘He is building a second studio now; he calls it Studio B.’

They approached the structure and even from afar, the hubbub of people at work was apparent. Alice continued:

‘Méliès is involved in everything. He writes the scenarios, supervises the construction of the sets, which are based on his own elaborate designs, he designs the lighting, arranges the action and sometimes – to top it all – even acts himself!’

‘That must be exhausting.’ And potentially control-seeking, Eliza thought.

‘He and his brother Gaston even draw the movie affiches.’

‘Affiches?’

‘Promotional posters.’

Alice went on to explain that, even if most of his illusions derived from his theatre work, Méliès had also started developing many new cinematic techniques. He had got bored very quickly with what the theatre could offer, and was now a firm believer in the possibilities of cinema.

‘I guess the Robert-Houdin proved to be a very limited space for showcasing his genius – he has created a massive number of illusions and tricks for the theatre. Some people say twenty, or even more, in ten years.’

On top of the entrance, the motto of the Méliès company was prominently displayed: Le Monde à la Portée de la Main – ‘the world at your fingertips’.

‘So, he is some sort of genius?’ asked Eliza.

‘Pretty much.’

Great, thought Eliza. How on earth she was going to lie to this man’s face about what she was doing here was beyond her. She started to lose her nerve a little. Still, she was here now, and they were expected. She would have to pull herself together. Hopefully she would only need a couple of days of snooping around the studio to have enough to report to Helena.

Somebody bumped against her, shouting something in French that she did not catch. Eliza turned around to apologise, and jumped in shock. Despite the elaborate costumes, all actors and dancers were dressed in different shades of grey, the same colour as the decorations around them, with white and black makeup covering their hands and their faces, their heads also powered white, with heavy grey eyeshadow, which made them look like faded ghosts. The ghostly man she was now facing shook his head and moved on.

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