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The Superstition: To recieve a bouquet of flowers at the stage door BEFORE the play begins is an omen of failure. However, it is very lucky for an actress to recieve flowers AFTER a performance The Origin: See Flowers |
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The Superstition: Actors usually dislike three candles on the stage or in a dressing-room. The Origin: Costumes and fresh paint are quick to catch fire. But there may be another, stranger origin for this superstition. There is a very old superstition stating that if three, and only three, candles are lit in a room, the one closest to the shortest candle will be the first to either marry . . . or die. To some, either is as hazardous. |
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The Superstition: Actos say it is very ill-omened to kick a cat. It is lucky, however, to have one in the theatre. But if one runs across the stage during a performance, some misfortune will follow. The Origin: Cats have always been considered to contain magical powers. This superstition dates all the way back to ancient Egyptians, who considered them Gods. Therefore, having a cat live in your theatre is much like having a god in your home. Later cats were said to contain the soul of a vampire or be used as the Familiar for witches. spiritual and magical attributes of cats: CLICK HERE FOR Cats & You |
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The Superstition: Blue is an unlucky color for an actor to wear the world over, silver being it's only saving relief. Certain shades of yellow, also, are considered unlucky, particularly in a tie, a vest, or a hat. It is believed to be disasterous to allow a yellow clarinet in the orchestra. The Origin: In the early days of theatre, blue was an extremely difficult dye color to create, and therefore was very expensive. Any theatre company spending such extravagant amounts on costumes was sure to close without turning a profit. Unless, of course, they were wearing silver, which was an indicator that the entire company was being funded by a VERY wealthy source; wealthy enough to afford silver adornments. Green and yellow, during the era of the morality plays, were often considered a symbol of the Devil. A devil in disguise might be identified by wearing a green or yellow tie, vest or hat. As for the yellow clarinet ... I'm open to suggestions! |
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The Superstition: The looping of a drop curtain is the certain forerunner of evil and nearly every actor and manager believes it is bad luck to look at the audience from the wrong side of the curtain. The Origin: An actor peeking through the curtain at the audience is likely to see friends, family or, worst of all, a media critic furiously writing a review. This is enough to make any actor nervous and nervousness leads to disasterous performances. |
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The Superstition: Real flowers must never be used on stage. The Origin: The problem with real flowers is they have to be replaced; especially on a stage, which is given to all kinds or false light and dark throughout a day. Real, fresh flowers can be expensive; and I've never known a theatre company that has money to spare. (Not to mention actors who may be allergic!) |
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The Superstition: There is a closing night tradition in the theatre for the cast to give the director and/or leading lady a bouquet of flowers that has been stolen from a graveyard. The Origin: Actors are typically poor and flowers and arrangements can be expensive. The site of a new funeral and freshly filled grave is a wealth of lavish flowers. For an actor, it seems, the macabre is no deterent to thrift. Special thanks to Doug for this one. |
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The Superstition: There is a superstition that if an emptied theater is ever left completely dark, a ghost will take up residence. In other versions of the same superstition the ghosts of past performances return to the stage to live out their glory moments. To prevent this, a single light is left burning at center stage after the audience and all of the actors and musicians have gone. The Origin: The origin of this superstition is rooted in both practicality and further superstition itself! The practicality, of course, is that people coming into a darkened theatre cannot see what delicate costumes, sharp and pointy props and dangerous set pieces have been left lying about, and a light is important to prevent injury, property damage or lawsuits. The other reason lends itself to further superstition. A "dark" theatre is a theatre without a play. There is nothing more sad to a drama artist than an empty house and a playless stage. Therefore, a light is left burning center stage so that the theatre is never "dark". It is simply awaiting the next production. |
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The Superstition: Knitting on the side of the stage or on stage by an actor or actress is regarded as unlucky. The Origin: Knitting needles are pointy and can rip costumes rushing by to make an entrance. Also, a knitting needle on the floor may roll under the foot of a stagehand or actor, causing them to fall. |
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The Superstition:
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The Superstition: It is very unlucky to use real mirrors on stage. An actor, also, should not look into a mirror over the shoulder of another, so that the two reflections are seen together. Doing this will bring certain mis-fortune to the one overlooked. It is also considered unlucky to wear real jewelry on or back stage. The Origin: Real mirrors on a stage have a tendency to play havoc with a lighting design, reflecting rectangles of light into places never inteded to be lit. Also, actors tend to be vain, and a mirror is simply an unneccessary distraction. Real jewelry, also, reflects the lights in obscure and unwanted ways. Also, jewelry is often lost on or back stage. |
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The Superstition: Actors strongly dislike peacock feathers on the stage or in any part of the theatre The Origin: The most probable reason for this superstition is that the ever-open 'eyes' on the feathers have become associated with the Evil Eye, a portent of horrible misfortune, including death. |
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The Superstition: Before making a first entrance, an actor or actress should be pinched for luck. The Origin: It is an Old Wives' Tale that a pinch brings good luck. Maybe because it is proof that you're not dreaming . . . or dead. |
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The Superstition: Professional actors consider it a bad sign if a rehearsal is perfect. The play will have a very short run after a perfect rehearsal, or will go very badly. Similarly, it is extremely unlucky to speak the tag line, or the last line of the play, during rehearsals. The line which completes the play must not be spoken until the opening night of the show. The Origin: After a perfect rehearsal a cast and crew tends to feel as if they are 'prepared' for the production. They lose their nervous edge and adrenaline and, believing themselves to be fully prepared, stop paying close attention while on stage. The last line of a show completes the play, and a production is never complete until it is before an audience. |
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The Superstition: In the English theatres, to trip on entering the scene on the first night of a play is a sure sign of success. Also, if an acress trips over the hem of her dress, she should pick it up and kiss it. This, it is said, will bring a contract for the actress. The Origin: Actresses should kiss the hems of their dresses after tripping on their first entrance in order to placate the faeries who tripped them up. (I didn't promise all these origins wouldn't be tied to superstitions all their own.) Special thanks to Nikki for this one. |
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The Superstition: When finding a thread on another actor, one should wind it around a finger without breaking. This, it is said, will bring a contract from the management bearing the initial suggested by the number of times the thread goes around the finger. The Origin: Again, I have no idea. Though, there are many superstitions involving tying thread around a finger. |
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The Superstition: To ensure a successful career for a new theatre, you must stand on the stage and throw a piece of coal into the gallery. The Origin: A lot of superstitions are associated with the use of coal. All I can guess is that this is an old superstition from the days when coal was used for heat and light, both essential in winter months. |
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The Superstition: Whistling is expressly prohibited in the theatre, pertaining to all parts of the building, particularly the dressing rooms, where it is said that if heard, someone (not necessarily the whistler) will soon be out of work. The Origin: The reason for this superstition is as follows: before the advent of walkie-talkies or clear-coms, cues for theatre technicians were called with a sailors whistle. Therefore, one who whistles in a theatre may, inadvertantly, call a cue before it's time, setting all types of catastrophy into motion. Should this happen, someone (not necessarily the whistler) will likely get fired, making the superstition come true. |
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The Superstition: It is considered very bad luck to wish an actor (or director, or playwright) "Good Luck" before an performance. Instead, you should say to him or her "Break A Leg". The Origin: Wishing anyone, particularly an actor, "Good Luck" is apt to fill them with confidence -- feeling as though they have "luck" on their side. Confidence in an actor can quickly lead to castasrophy, as it causes them to lose focus. "Break A Leg" is a very old military term for "taking a knee", or bending down to one knee and breaking the line of the leg. In the theatre it is a reference to "taking a bow". To wish someone to "Break A Leg" is to ask them to give the best performance they are capable so that they may deserve to take a bow at performance end -- or, to "Break A Leg". Another reference to "break a leg" is to slightly bending one's knees. Nervousness and adrenaline can make an actor "lock" their knees, which makes them look stiff on stage and can lead to feelings of illness under the hot lights and even cause them to pass-out. Therefore, to "break a leg" can also be applied as a reminder to relax, loosen up, and enjoy giving the performance. Special thanks to Rebecca for this one Yet another explaination: Because the curtains would billow up when raised and lowered, wooden "legs" were sewn into them. Many curtain calls bringing them up and down would break the wood ... hence Break a leg = many curtain calls. Special thanks to Teresa for this one |
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The Superstition: Certain tunes are considered unlucky in the theatre, especially: "I DREAMT THAT I DWELT IN MARBLE HALLS" or "THE DEAD MARCH". Also, "THREE BLIND MICE" is considered extremely unlucky. The Origin: Clueless! Aren't some of these superstitions just plain strange?!! |
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