I read an article once about theatrical makeup which stated that the performer’s life could be endangered by covering his/her entire body with makeup as it wouldn’t allow the skin to breathe.
This seems a little extreme to me; I would have thought it would cause dematitis at the worst, but am I wrong? - can someone die because their skin was suffocated?
While you might not suffocate, I was glancing through some texts on the history of stage make up and early on some make up did contain some really questionable stuff including what seemes to be particles of lead based paint and mercury.
Passingly mentioned in “Designing and Making Stage Costumes” by Motley also a reference to it in one of Harold Clurman’s books. I think it was “Lies like Truth.” No mention, however, in Gassner and Quinns excellent source, The Reader’s Encyclopedia of World Drama.
I just read on the web yesterday (I think it was the Texas Department of Health’s site) that you can still get makeup with white lead in some countries.
In addition to Cecil’s column, there’s also a page at Snopes about this.