I am Milky-White (the cow) in Into the Woods (go to http://theatre-musical.com/intothewoods/ for info about the show), and I need some help on how to move and walk in a way that looks cow-like, and doesn’t hurt me. I’m not sure what the costume will be like yet, but does anyone know anything about the way animals, particularly cows, walk? Is it right front leg, then left front leg, then right back leg, then left back leg, for example, or some other combination? How much weight do I put on the front legs (my arms)? Thanx,
I’ve seen two professional stage shows recently that had people playing four-legged critters. Both used the same basic costume that looked pretty good.
In each case, the “animal” had stiff arm extenders that lengthened their arm to roughly their legs’ length. The walking position was bent at the waist with their newly lengthened arms on the ground and their back legs straight. This combined with a big foam head looked pretty good.
As for the gait, I guess I say to go find a cow and take a look.
I wouldn’t worry about the gait too much, just rock your hips a lot and plod along in as bovine a manner as you can. Chew your cud a lot. It would help to know what kind of costume you are going to have. Is this a single person cow outfit or tandem? Stand upright or hands and knees?
Try scooping up some of the audience and shove them into your gaping bovine maw. Tht’s what my cow does, and it seems to be what comes naturally to her.
