What type of curtains are horizontally suspended to conceal the stage area?

Tabs are a specific type of curtain used in theatre that are horizontally suspended and serve the purpose of concealing the stage area when they are closed. Traditionally, tabs are made of heavy fabric that blocks the audience's view of the backstage, ensuring that no distracting elements are visible before the performance begins or during scene transitions. The use of these curtains is integral to maintaining the theatrical illusion, allowing for smooth scene changes while controlling the audience's focus on what is happening on stage.

In contrast, the other options have different functions. Wipe refers to a curtain that moves across the stage, typically used to transition between different scenes or effects, but does not serve the same purpose as tabs. Traverse curtains are designed to open and close by sliding on a track but do not fit the description of being specifically used to conceal the stage area in the same manner as tabs. A wagon stage is a type of platform designed to move scenery or performers on and off stage, distinct from curtain types altogether. Thus, the choice of tabs aligns perfectly with the described function of concealing the stage area horizontally.