Theatre superstitions are steeped in tradition, culture and even fears. Often superstitions have their roots in real life practicalities in regard to a show. And sometimes the superstitions are based on exaggerations of what has happened behind and in front of the scenes. Lets see if you’ve violated any and how to rectify the situation.
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Superstitions and sayings you should know about the theatre
Break a Leg
Break a leg, is one of the most well known theater sayings to wish someone good luck before they go on stage. However It is a superstition where wishing someone ‘good luck’ is actually considered ‘back luck.’
Here are a number of reasons why break a leg is used in the theatre:
Break a Leg is allegedly based on John Wilkes Booth who was a former actor and assassin of Abraham Lincoln. Apparently he broke his leg in the process of murdering Abraham Lincoln.
Break a leg is also associated with brilliant lead actors, prima donas, dancers and performers where they are wished well by fellow performers with the saying said in jest. Many a time the saying has been said by understudies ready and willing to take over a lead’s role at a moments notice.
Some say that if you wish someone good luck on stage, that provokes evil spirits to do harm to the actor and or show. So instead cast and crew often say, ‘Break a leg’ instead.
Break a leg was also utilized by William Shakespeare who used this saying for performers to take a bow on stage. Break a leg is the same as bending at the knee to bow at someone, hence the saying. However it is also known to be a saying for an illigetimate child.
Another version of this saying, Break a Leg was during Elizabethan times, when stomping the ground after a performance became a phenomenon. Apparently audiences who were enthused with a performance would stomp their legs and some would break the legs of their chairs.
A Bad Dress Rehearsal Will Mean a Great Opening Night
Many thespians cling to the idea that a bad dress rehearsal is a great omen for a great show or successful opening night. This is merely a superstition which isn’t based on any fact.
Sometimes a production will have a lackluster Technical Dress Rehearsal, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that a show will be a success. Infact often it means that the show itself needs more work.
Sometimes a show will have a very good opening night where things don’t go wrong even if the dress rehearsal was poor. But this is an exception to the rule particularly if the tech dress had a lot of performance or technical issues. Often a successful opening night and show, is due to good planning, material and execution of the show itself.
Never Bring a Peacock feather on stage
This superstition is likely to have occurred because a peacock feather can look like an eye. Bringing this prop on stage is likely to cause people to think that it is the evil eye which will bring a curse to those who view it or work with it. Apparently this can risk a person to injure themselves if they do bring this item on stage or jinx the show.
Mirrors on Stage Cause Bad Luck
There is a saying that mirrors on stage can cause seven years bad luck and this also goes for the theater. However, this might also be due to the effect that stage lights have on mirrors, which are highly reflective. The lights may reflect on unwanted places such as on the roof of the auditorium or different parts of the theater.
It looks amateurish and unprofessional to have unwanted light beaming from the wings or similar. Reflected lighting like this can cause a distraction when the audiences gaze should be on the performances not elsewhere.
Whistling Backstage Superstition
Whistling backstage can jinx a show. It is a superstition encouraged within the industry never to do it. The real reason why whistling backstage is a no no is because in the mid to late 1800’s, stage hands used to pull and lower down scenery by hand by pulling ropes, (before hydraulics or more advanced systems were invented).
They would would whistle to each other behind the scenes to cue scenery changes. If an actor whistled backstage a stage hand could cue the wrong scenery change and all hell could break lose.
A sandbag or scenery wall could potentially hurt another actor or backstage crew members. It stands to reason that this superstition was for safety reasons. One of the many quirks we still have in our theaters today.
Never say Macbeth backstage
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If you are an actor it is best that you never say the word Macbeth on stage or behind stage. Apparently it is bad luck if you say the word Macbeth anywhere near the theatre. Instead you must say ‘That Scottish play,’ if you are referring to Shakespears Macbeth. There are a number of ways to rectify your faux pas or remedy the curses in which you have brought upon the current show. And these are some of the ways you can;
- You are to recite two lines from the playTwo gentlemen of Verona.
- Must recite this line from, a Midsummers Night Dream, by Shakespeare; If we fellows have offended, think about this and all is mended, that you have slumbered here whilst these visions disappear.
- You must walk out of the theatre completely, turned around three times in a circle and then spit on the ground.
The main reason why the saying Macbeth is a no-no in the theatrical world, is because the play is known to involve witches incantations and witches call on evil spirits. Who wants evil jinxing a perfectly good show?
Always leave the Ghost light on
In the American theater in particular, there should always be a light on, this is called the ghost light, particularly before and well after a performance. This superstition stands to reason where if a cast crew member needed to walk on stage for any reason, they have some kind of light to guide their way. Otherwise they have a danger of falling off stage, falling into the orchestra pit, or banging into some unknown scenery or wall.
From personal experience I can tell you that when I’ve staged managed we hardly ever had ghost lights on, maybe it’s because we are living in New Zealand.
(Mel, author)
Getting a Bouquet of flowers before a Show is bad luck
Getting a bouquet of flowers before show is considered bad luck. It presupposes that the performer has done a fabulous job before they showcase their work.
However a person should get flowers after the show has finished which is proper etiquette.
Often the director at the end of the show will get flowers. Traditionally though, these flowers were picked from a gravesite. That is probably due to the fact that actors have never been known to be too affluent and couldn’t really afford to buy them.
Do not wear Blue on Stage
Apparently a couple of centuries ago, blue dye and blue fabric was hard to come by. And when a production were failing or was not as successful as they would have liked, the actresses or actors would wear the color blue to pretend to the audience that they were a successful show.
Blue’s a great colour for catching the eye, so of course it’s no longer a superstition which is adhered too.
Exit with your Best Foot Forward
Exit with your best foot forward. This saying is followed when exiting a dressing room, where leading with your left foot is a sign of good fortune. It also means that it is important for visitors to enter with their right foot, leading with your opposite foot can jinx the show.
Taking a Bow to an Empty Audience
Taking a bow to an empty audience is considered a bad omen. Even if you have no audience during the show it is considered not the done thing to bow because there is no one there to appreciate your hard work. It would be to be considered just another rehearsal. This superstition still stands today.
The last line Of the Play before it opens
It is considered a bad omen to say the last line of the play before it opens. There is no real origin to the saying but it is not the done thing.
Peeping behind the curtain
It’s also considered a bad omen to peep behind the curtain before the play begins. You may jinx the show. This superstition probably emerged to keep inexperienced actors from getting caught by the audience, which is considered unprofessional.
But also it can be particularly off putting if one sees a theatre critic in the audience. It can make an actor nervous and give a poor performance.
Never rehearse on a Sunday
Probably due to religious reasons with Christianity, superstition prohibits a play from being rehearsed on Sunday which is considered a rest day for the Lord. Although now many shows rehearsal and or have a show on that day.
Being greeted by a Cat at the Stage door
Apparently being greeted by a cat at the stage door is considered a good omen for you and also for the show at hand. This saying or superstition says that if the cat is happy with you that he or she has confidence in you as a performer. This brings good luck to the show in general. So bring in your cats!
Conclusion
There are many superstitions protocols, sayings and rules of the theatre which have their origins in safety, practical purposes, traditions or just plain fun. Some of these superstitions are still adhered to by actors and performers everywhere. However some people choose to ignore these theater practices as fantasy and silly superstitions sometimes a their own (wink wink) peril.
