Theatre has been hit hard by Covid 19. We all know this. In honor of the opening and lifting of regulations due to Covid, let's dive into some theatre facts you didn't know before.
Theatre (live theatre) is an art form that created the modern films you know and love. Why is it important? Look around you and tell me what DVDs and TV shows you love most, then imagine that live theatre never happened and acting was never a profession. Most of our entertainment stemmed from live theatre. Let's honor and give that fact some respect with some wacky, strange, and weird trivia. Go buy tickets to the next live show you can see, too. Support the live theatre experience as much as you support our movie theatres, please. Without the live theatre experience, you would never have modern theatre and your Netflix favorites.
Broadway
For those who don't know, off-broadway is not based on geography. It is actually based on the number of seats. Shows move from off-off-Broadway and move up to Broadway if they are considered good enough. Broadway has 500 seats, off-Broadway has 100-499 seats, and off-off-Broadway has less than 100 seats. Some shows that are produced don't make it all the way to the Broadway stage.
Women In Theatre
Today we show women on the stage regularly, but there was a time when women were not allowed onto it or were scandalized by being on it. The church forbid it for a while. Shakespearean plays had young boys in corsets to play women. A select few theatres offer the true Shakespeare experience, but they don't do that anymore in most places. It makes it a little uncomfortable to know that Juliet is a young boy kissing a grown man. King Charles II made it a requirement that women fill women's roles later on.
The Renaissance actors were only men, exclusively. December 1660 was the first known actress in Othello, playing Desdemona. Opera opened up more opportunities for women, mostly. So did Burlesque. They were still being told "no" by culture, but they no longer cared. Women in the theatre lost their reputations and gained some sort of social freedom. Women were supposed to be home, not in public oftentimes.
Odd Superstitions
There are some odd beliefs in theatre communities, and one of which is not to say "good luck". Because it was believed there were creatures in the theatre that tried to sabotage things, you say the opposite of what you want to happen. Weird? Yes, but it still exists as a theatre rule today.
Theatre "ghosts" are common, weirdly. I'm not sure why. Sometimes to "appease theatre ghosts" a single light is left on all the time. Also, some theatres have seats permanently opened for theatre ghosts. Why this place attracts ghosts may be a constant mystery, but I do know that theatre ghosts are somewhat common. I have seen unexplainable things in two theatres or heard stories about apparitions in theatres I've attended, so we may never know what is supernaturally going on.
Macbeth is never said by name because the production is said to come with bad luck. It is "the Scottish play" in a theatre. Also, some believe the curses in the play from the three witches are real witchcraft. The cleansing ritual for saying the name of the play in the theatre is to leave the theatre and spit over your shoulder, spin and brush yourself off, or recite a line from another Shakespeare play.
Don't whistle backstage. The fly system used to be controlled by sailors that were hired by theatres. A whistle poorly timed could kill an actor. Whistling came before the computer systems to control what is done when.
Apparently, when you have a bad dress rehearsal you will have a great performance. You perform better as you make mistakes. It may or may not be actually true, but it is a theatre superstition nonetheless.
Odd Theatre Terminology
If you hear something about going down to "Hell" or up to the "Heavens" it is referring to the trapdoor in the floor or the ceiling of the theatre. You are not really going to Hell if you exit the stage through "Hell".
Stage blocking is also not what you think. See the diagram below for the basics.
Etiquette
I have these rules of etiquette burned into my soul, and this applies to concerts and movie theatres (in some cases), too. The performing arts should be treated with respect. Actors are sensitive creatures who need reassurance of their importance and their ability to act well. Therefore, the below rules are to be applied to everything live theatre and live performance.
1. If you must leave, do so at intermission where the actors won't see you. If you know you can't come to the whole performance - DON'T. Should you urgently have to use the restroom and intermission is over, do it at a scene change and come in at a scene change (and hurry up in silence). In the case of a musical concert, you can leave or come between musical pieces/songs. This rule does not need to be followed in a movie theatre, where actors can't see you and you can buy the movie later after release (though it is still annoying for a crowded theatre). Live theatre is not a movie theatre and you can't replay a scene later because you had to leave for work.
2. Unless audience participation is part of the performance, remain silent. This rule can be applied in movie theatres, too. Nothing is worse than someone talking through a live theatre show and you not being able to rewind, thus live theatre is a place this rule applies doubly. You can laugh at the comedy, ooh and ah at scenes, and cry at sad parts - just don't interrupt the flow of the performance by yelling at actors. Frankly, this rule applies to any preacher or speaker you ever encounter.
To be clear, I have seen a pastor get their flow interrupted by a churchgoer yelling a retort that was uncalled for. That pastor is someone I work for. It made me angry for more than one reason, but one reason I was angry was that this rule was burned into my being due to all my life experience in the arts. The only thing anyone should yell up at a pastor is "Amen!". Additionally, no actor should have to deal with drunken people interrupting a show by screaming at actors onstage. That, too, is wrong. Show respect to your speakers and actors of any type. I don't care what they said, what they look like, or how badly the actor is acting - you need to respect anyone speaking to or performing for you.
3. Put the phones away. Your text can wait. This applies to any speaker, pastor, movie theatre, musical performance, or live show. If you truly have a life emergency that is an exception. Most people who are going to shows are not in that situation (give or take first responders and police). This is a common courtesy and theatres of any kind tell you to turn them off in the first place (no, not vibrate - off!). Don't call your friend in the middle of the show, either, or an usher might escort you out. If you must call someone for news of an emergency, go out to the lobby at the next scene change. Come back at the scene change after you return. Actors can see you come in and out, as well as your shiny phone screen. In the case of movie theatres, it just disrupts everyone else. Don't be that human. If a phone does go off, don't respond with loud annoyance, because that is worse than the phone.
Also related to phones and devices is the matter of illegal and pirate recordings. Yes, please turn off all devices that aren't medical and don't pirate shows online (as much as people like to watch them). We arts people have to make money somehow. Tickets have to be sold. Broadway will scream at you for it.
4. Snack quietly and don't bring a full dinner to a show (unless it is served to you at a dinner show). Believe it or not, some have brought a full meal to a live show. Movie theatres might discourage this, too, but they might not know if you do this. Also, unwrap things before the scenes begin to avoid crinkling during quiet scenes because slow unwrapping does not make it better. If you snack clean up after yourselves.
5. Come on time. You can't rewind anything. You will disrupt the seated people who are on time if you come late. Give yourself time to get your snacks, drinks, and read the playbill. At lights down be seated.
6. Get tickets ahead! You will thank yourself when the performance gets sold out and you have one. Those who don't heed the warning have to wait and see if someone doesn't show up. Covid will increase the need to do so, I guarantee it. This goes doubly if you are bringing a large group. Have those group tickets before the seats are all taken up. Be a Boyscout and be prepared. Ticket staff and ushers will thank you for your consideration.
7. Don't block aisles. Why? Because often actors use them in the course of the show. Nothing is worse than being an actor who has to rush down an aisle, only to trip on a woman's purse or man's jacket. Keep your stuff at your feet. Don't throw anything onstage, either.
8. Use the restrooms before you get into the theatre, during the intermission, and after the show. I understand if you have health issues that make it impossible to hold your bladder but do try to. If you know you can't make it through a show because of this, maybe just get a DVD or stream a movie instead of seeing live theatre.
Sources:
https://www.blaketheater.com/theater-etiquette/
https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/20-amazing-theatre-facts_34626.html
https://dramatics.org/why-do-theatre-people-believe-weird-stuff/
https://www.folger.edu/shakespeares-theater
https://nctheatre.com/blog/women-theatre-historical-look
https://www.radford.edu/content/cvpa/home/theatre/current/know/etiquette.html
https://broadwaydirect.com/theater-etiquette-dos-donts-attending-broadway/
https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/women-in-theatre-eight-facts_45974.html
https://www.writerstheatre.org/blog/gender-shakespeares-stage-history/
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