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Thread ID: 91058	2008-06-24 22:33:00	Left or right?	Ulsterman (12815)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
681969	2008-06-24 22:33:00	Do you like live theatre? A bit of Shakespeare, perhaps? Or just your local repertory? Do you know which is the left side of the theatre and which is the right? The front and the back? Many people seem to think that left and right (of most things) is relative to which way they are facing which is true as far as you are concerned, but is that correct in the theatre? Left and right, in a theatre, is determined from the actors’ point of view – as they face the audience . The prompt always sits stage left and so stage right is often known as “OP” or “opposite prompt . ” The rear of the theatre is behind the actors (upstage) and therefore, behind the stage . Actors’ directions, written by the author of a play, are based on that constant so there is no confusion . The entrance to the theatre, which in the vast majority of theatres is to the rear of the audience, is known as “Front of House . ” So there is no confusion as to which is right and which is left, even if the audience may not concur . The right of the theatre is to the left of the audience and the left is to the right of the audience . If you agree that the above makes sense and is correct, then why do people continue to speak of left and right of a theatre as relative to the way they, the audience, are facing – the stage at the front of the theatre and “Front of House” at the rear? Is it because there is a "house left" and "house right" which is determined by the way the audience perceives left and right? (The "house" is usually where the audience sits . ) If you take that further, what about your local community hall? You may not use it for live theatre but why should that make a difference? You enter by the front door, don’t you? Why, then, is left and right not determined by where the front door is? The front door of your house is not determined by which way you are facing . That always remains constant, doesn’t it? At the front of the house? What about your local church? While I realise it may have been some time since some of you have set foot (hatches, matches and despatches only, perhaps) I’m certain that you are aware of how most churches are arranged . The entrance is through the front door, is it not? The congregation faces the altar which is at the rear of the church and so, as is the case of a theatre, left and right is determined from the point of view of the vicar who may be compared, loosely, with the actors in a theatre . Perhaps you may think that there are more important topics to ponder – and I’m certain there are – but when you next attend a christening, a wedding or a funeral and you are told that friends and relatives are to sit on the left side, you will be able to amaze your friends with your freshly found knowledge and will know exactly what that means and where you are meant to be seated . :)	Ulsterman (12815)
681970	2008-06-24 23:03:00	Unless you're in Germany, when it's all from the Directors (read: Audience) POV. Or if you're in France, when it's Jardin (stage left) or Court (stage right). I'm wondering why you decided to share this with us though.	Thebananamonkey (7741)
681971	2008-06-24 23:14:00	Maybe he watched the latest episode of Doctor Who. ;)	bob_doe_nz (92)
681972	2008-06-24 23:37:00	Unless you're in Germany, when it's all from the Directors (read: Audience) POV . Or if you're in France, when it's Jardin (stage left) or Court (stage right) . I'm wondering why you decided to share this with us though . Why not? Is it not of interest to you? If so, why reply? I was of the opinion that it may have been of interest to some . Your comments on Germany and France are of interest, though .	Ulsterman (12815)
681973	2008-06-24 23:41:00	I'm an Opera singer, so having a fair amount of stage experience, I already knew it. I'm sure some people will be interested, it just seemed a little long winded for what it was. But that's just my POV, not gospel. Anyway, don't let me put you off. PS. I think upstage and downstage change in France and Germany too. Can't really remember though to be honest.	Thebananamonkey (7741)
681974	2008-06-25 07:13:00	I'm sure some people will be interested, it just seemed a little long winded for what it was . But that's just my POV, not gospel . Anyway, don't let me put you off . There goes my official Verbosity Badge . . right out the window . < that was 10 words> I've decided to be a headline writer now <+8 more words, not including these!>	SurferJoe46 (51)
681975	2008-06-25 08:24:00	The posts just get weirder and weirder...	pine-o-cleen (2955)
681976	2008-06-25 11:16:00	Well, its a bit like stereo speakers which is left or right, say in a manual for setting up a component, do they mean left and right when you are facing the stereo or left and right when you have your back to it. :)	Trev (427)
681977	2008-06-25 15:13:00	All factoids are important to us here at F1 . Someday . . someplace . . . some one of us will be asked to fill in for a sick understudy in . . say . . . the opera Faust et Marguerite, and you'd be lost if you didn't know your stage directions . It could happen!	SurferJoe46 (51)
681978	2008-06-25 22:46:00	All factoids are important to us here at F1 . Someday . . someplace . . . some one of us will be asked to fill in for a sick understudy in . . say . . . the opera Faust et Marguerite, and you'd be lost if you didn't know your stage directions . It could happen! A sick understudy? It does happen I guess . I think if it came to that, I'd just rely on the "Stand and Deliver" school that Pavarotti typified . Screw thinking about the singing, role, and foreign stage direction . Improvisation's for actors, it tends not to work so well in Opera .	Thebananamonkey (7741)
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