theater curtain - online puzzles

A front curtain, also known as a (front-of-)house curtain, act curtain, grand drape, main curtain or drape, proscenium curtain, or main rag is the stage curtain or curtains at the very front of a theatrical stage, separating the house

The front curtain is usually opened at the beginning of a performance to reveal the stage set and closed for intermissions as well as the end of a performance. The most common material for the front curtain is a heavy velour material, often with pleated fullness sewn into the fabric to create a more opulent appearance.

Types

There are several styles of house curtains, which vary in construction, operation, and cost. Depending on a curtain's type, its fabric may be flat or pleated, and it may drape, hang, or do both. Some types open with the full curtain rising out, either via a fly system or by gathering upwards with lines; other types part in the centre and either travel horizontally on a track or are pulled out diagonally using lines (See below). Some styles require a mechanical advantage like a winch to operate, while others are done by pulling an operating line or handling the drapes directly.

Austrian

The Austrian curtain or drape, also called a puff curtain, has multiple vertical lines (typically nylon) spaced evenly across the width of the fabric, which typically is a thin satin, charmeuse, or chiffon material that bunches well. Each line runs through a pulley at the top of the curtain and then horizontally to a common head block. The lines descend from the head block to a mechanical winch, which is used to raise the curtain. A winch is necessary to perform this function as the curtain would otherwise be too heavy for one person to raise.