Before the Show

• Props masters, stage managers, assistants and even the actors will want to make sure all parts are ready before the curtain goes up. During rehearsal, actors' movements are blocked, and props are assigned as needed. Set props are those that remain on stage but are handled by actors at some point in the play. Things such as lamps a character would turn on or off, a book to read, a purse carrying an important story element must all be in place on the set or on the props table. Some props double as costume parts, and might be kept with the actor's costume, but items like a cane for an elder, or a flashlight or toy would be on the property table in the same place for each performance.
  
  

During the Show

• The props master needs to make sure flowers are ready for the actor to take to his date.Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images
  
  In "The Glass Menagerie," small glass statuettes are a key element to the play. They are both set pieces and personal props. A fan used by an shy Asian woman might be vital for the role. The bottle the drunkard walks onstage with better be on the prop table because he'll need to grab it and soon throw it across the stage. The tea set on the prop table back stage will need filling with an appropriate colored beverage to be poured into cups for a British comedy. The actors certainly could pretend they are drinking tea, but the audience will notice what came out of the teapot. The props master and assistants will ensure that every item is in its exact place as each actor needs, and after set changes.
  
  

Problems

• If the key to the all-important vault isn't in the actor's briefcase when needed, he can't open the vault. When an actress reaches for a vase to throw, but it's not there, what can she do? If someone is supposed to end up in the hospital because the vase gets thrown, then the whole story goes awry unless the problem is resolved. If an actor has to stop and determine alternate solutions to missing prop problems, the show stalls, lines get dropped or forgotten, the audience shifts uncomfortably and awkward pauses ensue. Sometimes an actor can improvise rapidly with what's on hand, but most problems are avoidable to begin with if the people responsible for the props do their job properly.
  
  

Set Prop Issues

• Period pieces, or plays with specific cultural settings, can bring up some challenges. Finding the ideal Victorian bell or an 1800s American Indian shield can be tricky and time-consuming. Props masters make lists of all the items they'll need for the performance, but sometimes have to alter modern ones to appear old or worn. They might have to build something from scratch if they can't find it, but many props professionals also create in wood, clay and paint. They will prioritize the custom-built items, and locate the rest in places including prop shops, thrift stores and trade houses.