http://thewordnerds.org/2006/05/06/acting-and-performance-61/ A podcast about words, language, and why we say the things we do Fri, 16 May 2008 05:29:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 http://thewordnerds.org/2006/05/06/acting-and-performance-61/#comment-12 Paul Lawler Mon, 29 May 2006 06:41:35 +0000 http://thewordnerds.org/2006/05/06/acting-and-performance-61/#comment-12 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. 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.

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