これらの柱が舞台をささえている。

these

indicates possessive; nominalizes verbs and adjectives; substitutes for "ga" in subordinate phrases; (at sentence-end, falling tone) indicates a confident conclusion; (at sentence-end) indicates emotional emphasis; (at sentence-end, rising tone) indicates question

pillar; post; support; prop; mainstay; counter for buddhas, gods, nobles, etc.

indicates sentence subject (occasionally object); indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions); but; however; still; and

stage (theatre, theater); scene or setting (e.g. of novel, play, etc.)

indicates direct object of action; indicates subject of causative expression; indicates an area traversed; indicates time (period) over which action takes place; indicates point of departure or separation of action; indicates object of desire, like, hate, etc.

to support; to prop; to sustain; to underlay; to hold up; to hold at bay; to stem; to check