Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Egyptian Peasants, King Zoser, and Imhotep



Our Egyptian peasants can have a little fun with their costumes. We're looking for earthy brown tones, ripped, "dirty" looking costumes; big, ill-fitting clothes with a rope (or similar) belt. You could use some sackcloth/burlap if you can get your hands on some to make a vest or shirt. You could also get a king sized pillow case and stain it in tea, then rip out a hole for the head and arms. An over sized tea-stained T-shirt and sweats ripped into shorts would also work. These peasants are on the brink of starving and need to look really pathetic. (o: Dirty faces would be a great touch. Their hair could be a little messy as well. They could be wearing a ripped square piece of fabric on their head (similar to the shepherd look in the nativity). Leather-looking sandals without socks or other non-modern looking shoes should be worn. Here's another picture for some inspiration:


King Zoser, on the other hand is going to be the polar opposite of his poor, starving peasants.


We would like King Zoser's costume to be this regal black and gold. This draped crown (not sure what it is called) is just the shape we are looking for. We don't want his head wear to be too over the top and huge like some costumes are. He will have to be wearing this in the chorus during the whole play and we don't want it to block anyone behind him or be cumbersome to wear. Leather looking sandals would look best for all of our Egyptian footwear. 

Imhotep is King Zoser's advisor. He or she should be dressed far above the peasant look, but not nearly as fancy as the king he/she serves. A nice white, medium length garment for underneath (similar to what the Pharaoh above is wearing, but white and not floor-length). We would like Imhotep to have a similar belt and round collar like the examples below and a little more conservative head piece like the men on the right and left of the king below. (The headpiece on the bottom photo is a bit much, as it is probably a king's costume, the shape is fine if it is half as tall.) And, of course, leather-looking sandals would be a good touch.
A hat this shape would work as well.


King Zoser will also have a wife and a guard. King Zoser's wife is an Egyptian queen so a pretty costume would be great. There are lots of options easy to find on Amazon or to borrow from friends. The guard could wear something similar to Imhotep, a mid-calf, white "dress/robe" with a smaller, round, gold collar and a simple gold belt that hangs down similar to the three men above.

No comments:

Post a Comment