Okay, I know the superstitions about ‘not uttering “MacBeth” in a theatre unless you are actually performing the play’, ‘whistling backstage is bad luck’ and ‘never wish an actor good luck’.
I’ve just been informed that
[ul]
[li]‘peacock feathers onstage are considered bad luck’[/li][li]‘knots and knitting onstage are considered bad luck’[/li][/ul]
with no sort of verification, historical background, or reasonings. [For all intents and purposes, they could substitute ‘left-handed canopeners’ and it would make as much sense.]
Has anyone else heard these? Are these ‘legitimate’ theatre superstitions (or just something locally)? Are there more theatre superstitions I should know of? [I volunteer with a couple theatre companies and would rather be knowledgeable than get my head bit off out of ignorance of tradtition.]
I’ve worked at two theaters, and I’d never heard those two superstitions. In fact, I’ve been involved with several plays where some of the stage business has been knitting.
Lots of actors have a “Thing” about yellow, so you’ll very seldom see it used on sets.
We’ve used peacock feathers in advertising for the local theater, nobody said anything, maybe we’re all just ignorant or the word never filtered back here. I don’t recall any disaster associated with the production.
Most all theaters (even modern multi-plex movie theaters) have a “ghost light”. Superstition dictates that a light be left on in the theater at all times (even when no one is around) for the theater’s ghosts.
On the other hand, a superstition against left-handed carpenters might actually be reasonable. Aside from all of the traditional superstitions assosciated with left-handedness, many carpentry tools are designed for righties, and a lefty carpenter might well be more likely to screw things up.
The high school theatre I was involved in used “eat the scenery” instead of “break a leg.” The reason why is that someone actually did break a leg on stage a few years back.
I’m just waiting to see what they switch it to when someone starts to feel a bit peckish onstage.
IN my high school theater, getting blood on your costume was said to be good luck. Methinks it is something they thought up when someone whined after pricking their finger.