Green Again

This was posted on this Newsgroups:alt.stagecraft Subject:Re: Origin of Green Room Hi;As we all know, a green room is where performers wait before going on. Iwas wondering about the origin of the term, and why green.Thanks,Max It dates back to days when theatre was often outdoors, in Elizabethan daysand earlier. You went out onto the green to perform.I have heard many other answers but this seems most likely to me.Angus That's the one I prescribe to - however, the green room was just a canvassedarea on the green grass adjacent to the portable stage at village fairs orwhatever. Not restricted to the Elizabethan era - it would have happened wellbefore that!Joe McCabe I heard something along this line but instead of performing on the green, itwas where actors would go to rest---on the green among the groundlings.virgaent@aol.com (Virga Ent) Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com There are a few other theories such as "Green Gage" which is London cockneyrhyming slang, but this I have discounted, because it means "Stage" andcomes from the Covent Garden area, which was made up of flowers and grownproduce markets around the theatre. It seems more plausible as performersof the time, would have had the same area set aside while going from townto town, where they 'rest' as such or a private place to entertain thelocal wench's ect,. So the logic is that it would follow that it became thegreen room, because of the green grass of the villages 'green sward'.There is one way out theory, because they used 'green and red flags' tosignal cues in those days - the actors would take off all their greenclothing, they may be wearing before they go on stage! In that case itshould also be known as the RED room, or does this have other connotationsof what the room is sometimes used for????Joe McCabe I heard something along this line but instead of performing on the green, itwas where actors would go to rest---on the green among the groundlings.I also understood that indoor stages in the 17th and 18th centuriesusually had a green stagecloth (to suggest grass) and that "On the green"was used to mean "on stage" and hence green room was the waiting areanear the stage.Richard Grevers Theatrical and Web Designer, Christchurch, New Zealand www.dramatic.co.nz"Failure is not an option - Microsoft have integrated it with your operating system" The green room is so named because it was where Elizabethan players kepttheir artificial grass.I must say though that I personally believe it also has reference to the"Green Man," the Celtic version of Dionysus.chris kerry walshActor, Corner Brook, NF., Canada This may be totally off, but this is what i have heard...The green in green room is derived partially from the slang term 'greenbacks' (translation - money). The 'green room' is where the actors gottheir money for preforming.TrippyHigh School Tech Mercenary, Light Designer,Sound Engineer, Cable Humper, ect...mscherbr at mps dot org (spell it like you say it)"It's kind of fun to do the impossible." - Walt Disney Unfortunately, "Green Backs" suggest paper money. During the period we believeit came about - paper money was not around. Further, as the green backs arepossibly an American slang, they don't enter the equation. When paper cameabout they were predominately white!At the time in question, payment was given in kind, collected by passing thehat or picked up from the stage after the audience showed their appreciationand threw coins or what ever - the what ever usually fed the whole troupelatter!Good input - we only speculate how it came about, as many other things are thesame.As the Irish Tech site suggest, we have to know at least two versions to be atrue Technician????The "Green Man" has possibilities - but I doubt it!"On the Green" has better possibilities.However a vexed problem, I for one, won't find out the true origins even if Iknew 'Dr Who' well enough to hitch a ride!Joe McCabe