Morris tribune., 1883-11-17
STAGE WORDS.
Tie Singular Vocabulary that 10 In
Use Behind the scenes In ths
Theatre.

Tie Singular Vocabulary that 10 In
Use Behind the scenes In tbs
Theatre.
New York Sun.
"The stage has language of its own
said stage carpenter to a reporter who
stood upon the boards of one of the principal
metropolitan theatres. words have mean
ings with us that are unknown to any Other
trade or art. / couldn't begin to give you
complete list, but I will mention a few in my
department.. In addition to these the property
man has his words, and so have the actors
the costumers, the wigmakers, the gasmen,
and the dramatists.
Each of the various pieces Of scenery has
a distinct name. The back scene, when
made in two pieces, rolled on from either
side, is called the flats when it is in one, and
raised or lowered from above, it is called
drop The narrow side scenes are wings
inclined platforms are called runs; these are
used in mountain scenes and for the horse in
.Mazeppa' and similar purposes. Small
painted frames to hide the runs are known as
masking pieces When room is set with
solid walls instead of wings, it is box scene.
Those arched pieces of canvas over your
head are sky borders The space over the
stage is known as the rigging loft though in
England it is more generally termed a grid
iron.' The gallery running round the stage
whence all the ropes are worked, is named
the flies That continuation of it
there where the artist is at work is
called the paint bridge 1t is made to raise
and lower, and so is his immense easel, known
as paint frame These holes in the stage
Rre traps and the space underneath is the
trap cellar Some of the traps are made
With springs to shoot person up quickly in
Iantomime or spectacular pieces. They are
then called star or vampire traps. Those
stSips Of wood below the flies into which the
scenes slide are called grooves and each di-
vision of groove is cut The space be-
tween each set of grooves is an entrance.
These two handsomely painted wings near
the proscenium arch, and which usually re-
main on the stage no matter what the scene,
are called 'tormentois;' why, I don't know,
except it may be that the audience gets
wearied Of always seeing them
''Observe these narrow grooves in the
stage, down which scenes may be made to
disappear. They are Sinks and the boards
that cover them are 'siiders.' To hold up
pieces of scenery we Use these poles with
angle irons, called braces. To fasten them
to the stage are these cork-screw-ike things
termed 'screw-eyes.' This is the prompt
side,' or where the promptor stands, and the
other is the %. p OF opposite prompt
Here is moon box, which moves up and
down with the calcium light representing
that lumirary. This sheet of iron is termed
the thunder drum Pull that string and you
shake up barrel of peas, which makes the
sound of rain, and which is called the rain
box Turn that handle and this gigantic
rattle makes noise like breaking wood. It
is CRASH and is used to make the sound of
bursting doors or falling buildings Against
the wall is a call box where the calls or
notices of rehearsals are posted. That piece
of canvas painted like water, and which
while lying on the stage is shaken from the
entrances, is a sea cloth Those painted
strips of muslin are 'gauze waters;' they
We're used in the cave scene Of the Colleen
Bawn.'
''To put a play on is to mount it, To
mount it cheaply is to fake it. A full set
is scene occupying all the stage. A car
penter's scene is set in the first grooves to
fill time while other scenes are being set
To strike is to move scene from the stage.
A stage hand is grip This wheel covered
with foil working behind stats in the scene
is ripple barrel It gives the effect Of
moonlight on the water. These wings cut
fancy shapes on the edge are profled.
This mass of gas burners is bunch light; >
it can be moved to any part of the stage.
The curtain is called the rag and the hand
some one used between the acts is the act
Drop My instructions from the author are
called scene plot and where store my
scenes is a dock
81 suppose can't call to mind'now half
the things even we carpenters have special
names for. If you were to go through all
the different branches Of the profession you'd
get words enough to start new language"