# Other theatre superstitions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 29, 2000, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-theatre-superstitions/38793 "2000-10-29T04:22:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-theatre-superstitions/38793/1 "2000-10-29T04:22:45Z")
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.] ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-theatre-superstitions/38793/2 "2000-10-29T04:28:12Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![dragonlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dragonlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonlady)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-theatre-superstitions/38793/3 "2000-10-29T04:30:25Z")
Lots of actors have a “Thing” about yellow, so you’ll very seldom see it used on sets. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Pinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dr.Pinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Pinky)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-theatre-superstitions/38793/4 "2000-10-29T06:11:33Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-theatre-superstitions/38793/5 "2000-10-29T06:41:26Z")
Break a leg… ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-theatre-superstitions/38793/6 "2000-10-29T08:59:30Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-theatre-superstitions/38793/7 "2000-10-29T21:00:26Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-theatre-superstitions/38793/8 "2000-10-29T22:35:38Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2000, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-theatre-superstitions/38793/9 "2000-10-30T00:53:33Z")
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.