The Handicapped Actor
I also use handicapped actors. This scene is perfect for an actor in a wheelchair. Directly behind the actors position is an access door. This is of no use to the actor in the wheelchair, but is used to pass refreshments to the actor. This scene has an exit door immediately before and after, so the wheelchair actor can easily exit the room. First time I used a handicapped actress in this scene I had an elderly lady, great character face and voice. She was scary with no makeup. She would rat her long white locks giving herself a wild woman look. Her eyes would pull you in. While I am drifting about, casting key positions is very important. Designing your haunt to take advantage of whatever may show up is the important first step. My scene designs include positions for all races, male/female, physical conditions and as young as six years old. Flexibility in scene design is important, because it provides variation with in the haunt and makes the experience more entertaining for your guests.
This lady was great. We concealed her wheelchair and lowered the table. She would invite a guest from each group to sit at the table with her. Groups entering the room thought it was a dead end room and at least one guest would always join her. She would slam her Tarot deck on the table (good startle) and play with the first card, flip it over and cackle, "You lose!" (It was the death card). With her free hand she would depress a momentary contact switch and the guests seat would vibrate violently. The guest would fly from his seat, the group was scared and the little girl waif in the bars would scream and point the way out. Only had the opportunity to work with this lady for one season, she contacted me to return for the next season, but she passed away in September. She was the greatest fun on slow nights; we would all use her room as the break room and her stories made the dull evenings early in the month fly by.
GuardRoom Dialogue