Overheard Stagehand Line #64: "People on the street are saying horrible things..."

"People on the street are saying horrible things about you, and most of it's me."

Term of the Day: the long knives are out

the long knives are out--an imminent, quick and brutal end. "After the psychotic soundman turned on the electrician who had protected him, the long knives were out and he was out before week's end.

Term of the Day: white woman's tears

white woman's tears--the only tool used by a young, incompetent contract woman on a recently closed straight play on Broadway. "She doesn't have the skills to be a prop person, but she knows how to use white woman's tears when she gets backed into a corner. With all the Broadway lip service to diversity, the tears still work."  She's being mentored by the tech who dresses like an extra from "High Plains Drifter."

Expression of the Night: quick to push the HR button

quick to push the HR button--when a stagehand is quick to claim harassment or a hostile work environment, real and imagined. "Don't get left alone with that young propwoman...she's very quick to push the HR button. You'll be up in the office  before you know it."

Term of the Night: to be on the fritz, to fritz out

to be on the fritz--malfunctioning or broken machinery. "The automation lift is on the fritz." to fritz out--to throw a tantrum, to have a volatile response. "The old head fritzed out over the late coffee delivery."