Dave Shepherd welcomes his wife Barbara once again as a guest Word Nerd. Dave and Barbara, who met in drama school years ago, discuss their shared background as actors. (1:54)
The specialized vocabulary of the theatre (5:51)
Music bumper from “Overreacting” by Brad Sucks (15:05)
Acting and performance in everyday life: the roles we play (15:29)
Song: “All the World’s a Stage,” by Away With the Fairys (19:15)
Rude word of the week: “chew the scenery” (23:27)
Promo for 7th Son, a podcast novel of suspense (28:04)
Music bumper from “Ockham’s Shaving Kit” by George Hrab (28:53)
Brushes we have had with famous actors. (For more wonderful stories of similar close encounters, check out episode #34 of Digital Flotsam.) (29:31)
Music courtesy of The Podsafe Music Network
Theme music by Kick the Cat
time: 36:03
size: 24.8 Mb
rating: G (Although we used to be actors, we don’t talk about the seedy side of the theatre at all.)
I’m very surprised you didn’t talk about one of the most common theater terms, because it is really only truly understood by one who has been on the stage and been a victim of it. The term is “upstaged.” Many people understand the term to simply mean stealing the limelight (egad, another theater term!), but it orginated as a very (procenium) stage specific term. As you explained, downstage is towards the audience, so if someone is “upstaging” you, they position themeselves upstage from you, so even though they are physically farther away from the audience they force you to turn your back on the audience to interact with them.
Paul, I had the same thought…maybe even that up-stager would be the RWW.
So, now, the question is, where does the word “limelight” come from?
And a final word on meeting famous people: I remember Garrison Keillor’s advice for encountering celebrities in public. He says to nod, smile, and say, “I like your work.” Then, go about your business and leave them alone. (Left unsaid was not to fawn, touch them, or gush inanities like, “Oh my God, is it really you? I’m your biggest fan…blah, blah, blah!”)