A lot of theater jargon comes from ships, since stage crew were often sailors who were looking for work between ships. The intricate rigging requirements of a theater are similar to the demands of a ship’s rigging. Knots are a necessary working requirement for climbers, sailors and theater technicians. Probably a few more professions in there, too, but this is my blog.
In old times, theaters and ships were mutually exclusive, drawing on the same skill sets of the same work force, but at completely separate times, in completely separate locales. Ships employed sailors on the sea, theaters employed sailors on the land.
It’s quite interesting to be on a ship while doing theater. While the two professions originally shared the sailor, each has evolved significantly. Now one person cannot do both jobs, unless they’re on two career paths. I could no more switch to maintaining the engines than an engineer could switch to programming moving lights. They’re similar skill sets, perhaps, but with completely different applications, and not interchangeable.
But it is still neat, when looking for some extra rope, to just run to the bosun and ask for some more line.
No comments:
Post a Comment