Page 30 - Let's Make Waves - September 2018

CURTAIN GOING UP!

By: Paul Hager

and the other is for plays; or that one refers to a building and the
other to an art form; or that one spelling is lowbrow while the
other is refined. But these are merely variant spellings of the
same noun. “Theatre” is the only spelling now recognized in
same noun. “Theatre” is the only spelling now recognized in
T T Theatre tttttrrrrrreeeerrrreeeee SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSuperstitionsnnnsn Britain. “Theater” is the traditional American spelling, but
Britain. “Theater” is the traditional American spelling, but
“th
“th
“theatre” is now equally acceptable in the US, according to eatre” is now equally acceptable in the US, according to eatre” is now equally acceptable in the US, according to
“theatre” is now equally acceptable in the US, according to
stan
standard dictionaries. We suspect that some Americans lean to-dard dictionaries. We suspect that some Americans lean to-
T T T he he he he standard dictionaries. We suspect that some Americans lean to-
ward “theatre” because of its British associations (just as the
ward “theatre” because of its British associations (just as the
heatre Folk are a superstitious lot and considering the atre Folk are a superstitious lot and considering the atre Folk are a superstitious lot and considering the atre Folk are a superstitious lot and considering the atre Folk are a superstitious lot and considering the
amount of things that can (unt of things that can (and do) go wrong in a perfor-and do) go wrong in a perfor-and do spelling “colour” appeals to cosmetics manufacturers). In other
amo
amount of things that can (and do) go wrong in a perfor-
words, it has snob appeal. One also supposes as usual there are
mance, it’s not surprising that folklore has popped up giving an class differences between those that use 're' and those who pro-
explanation to these occurrences. In this issue we will delve into nounce it "thee-ay-ter". You may say "toe-MAY-tow" whilst I
the world of theatre superstitions and try to provide the reasons say toe-MAH-tow - call me what you will; I'm an 're' guy!
for their existence. Some are well-known, some lesser-known
and a few even I hadn't known until doing research for this arti- "BREAK A LEG!"
cle! This is perhaps the superstition best-known by
you 'civilians' [non-Thespians] used when wish-
ORIGION OF THEATRE IN ing us 'good luck' or 'good show' before a per-
MYTHOLOGY formance. Again, there are differing opinions
We begin with a brief mention of the origins as to its origin. It may come from the ancient Greek practice of
as to its origin. It may come from the ancient Greek practice of
of what we consider live theatre [Please try to stomping feet instead of applauding, the Elizabethan term for
stomping feet instead of applauding, the Elizabethan term for
stay awake; I know I had trouble doing so bowing (to break the leg), the Vaudevillian practice of keeping
bowing (to break the leg), the Vaudevillian practice of keeping
during History of the Theatre in college!]. Scholars tend to actors just barely offstage (to break the leg of the curtain was to
during History of the Theatre in college!]. Scholars tend to
actors just barely offstage (to break the leg of the curtain was to
squabble over whether it was the Greeks or the Romans who
squabble over whether it was the Greeks or the Romans who enter the playing space, and thus, get paid), or from understudies
enter the playing space, and thus, get paid), or from understudies
initiated it as an art form, but do agree with Aristotle that Thes-
initiated it as an art form, but do agree with Aristotle that Thes- (jokingly) wishing actors would “break a leg” so that their under-
pis - a priest of the god of fertility and wine Dionysus - was the
pis - a priest of the god of fertility and wine Dionysus studies could perform.
first person ever to appear on stage as an actor playing a charac-
first person ever to appear on stage as an actor playing a charac-
ter in a play (instead of speaking as him or herself). In his hon- WHISTLING BACKSTAGE
or, those involved in theatre - predominately actors and actresses Whistling while anywhere backstage in a thea-
- refer to themselves as Thespians. tre has long been considered bad luck. This
superstition stems from the time before mech-
'RE' OR 'ER' ? anized sets and backdrops. Back then, all the
There’s been a lot of bru-ha-ha written about rigging for the sets, lighting, etc., was all operated by hand using
rigging for the sets, lighting, etc., was all operated by hand using
“theater” and “theatre”—that one is for movies
ropes and sand bags. As such, the backstage crew was often
ropes and sand bags. As such, the backstage crew was often
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