[heresie-dabord]

> to make a deliberate break with the tradition

In the monarchical period of European theatre, it was well-understood that the centre was a _pit_ full of hard-scrabble riff-raff. Having a box apart from this was a sign of social class (i.e. _wealth_ and aristocratic connexions).

[aidos]

In either case the boxes are a level above the riff-raff. In one case they’re at the back (but still above) and in the other they’re nearer the front on the side.