Professor Ratigan's Coronation
The air is wet and musty as you make your way down the dark corridor. Dripping water echoes around you as you carefully pick your way over the threadbare carpet. You reach a heavy wooden door and shoulder it open, entering a room whose dank smells compete with the opulence of the spectacle.
As your eyes adjust to the flickering candlelight, you see a long table laden with rusting cutlery, chipped glass goblets and heavy brass plates. Tall black candles sputter and hiss, casting ghoulish shadows across the floor. Somewhere near the front of the cathedral-like space, a skeletal orchestra plays a mournful march out of tune as a large, robed creature takes its seat on a plush gold throne.
In a room where every element of luxury feels borrowed, you can’t help but feel like you’re watching an elaborate performance - one whose ending most certainly won’t be happily ever after.
Since I was small, I’ve harboured a deep and undying love for The Great Mouse Detective. In particular, I’ve always loved Professor Ratigan - the dastardly villain responsible for The Big Ben Caper.
One of my favourite scenes is Ratigan’s coronation. After coercing a toymaker to build him a robot of the Queen of England, Ratigan throws himself a lavish party where he plans to use the robot to announce himself as the new King of England. Donning a crown and plush purple robe, Ratigan’s big debut is the perfect contract between king and villain, turning a diabolical scheme into something quite beautiful.
I wanted to bring this scene to life by designing an event that isn’t quite what it seems. Much like Ratigan’s kingly visage, I wanted everything about this event to be a mask. Just as Ratigan hides his true, viscous nature, I wanted to dress this elegant affair in touches that aren’t quite right in an effort to tell the story of what’s really going on. With every element of this underground affair, I want guests to get a sense of Ratigan’s own nervous energy and to be reminded that nothing is ever as it seems.