safety curtain (noun)

1. During the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, the safety curtain was dropped to prevent the flames from spreading to the stage.

2. In the play, the safety curtain serves as a symbolic barrier between reality and illusion.

3. Why did the safety curtain go to therapy? Because it was tired of being dropped all the time!

4. As the fire raged through the theater, the safety curtain descended, trapping the terrified audience inside.