Amazing Superstitions Actors Observe
Actors tend to be extraordinarily superstitious. Perhaps it is because no one know what creates fame or how it endures. Bit players and stars alike are prone to the same rituals.
Actors can certainly be considered “birds of a different feather.” Here are some eccentricities that actors have been known to show on a regular and even a compulsive basis.
It is considered bad luck to wear yellow onstage during a performance. No one really knows where this one came from, however, it is true that the color yellow appears white when it is illuminated with stage lights with colored filters. This of course presents huge headaches for the costume department.
Whether by tradition of by fear, most actors will seldom refer to Shakespeare’s play MacBeth by it real name. It is usually referred to as “The Scottish Play” because of the unlucky history of flops and mishaps that are believed to be associated with a curse that plague productions of the play.
Tell an actor to “break a leg” instead of wishing them good luck before a performance. Since wishing someone luck is considered bad luck, wishing someone bad luck is in reality wishing them good luck. By telling someone to break a leg, while hoping they really don’t, is actually a blessing. Confusing isn’t it?
The expression “Merde” is often said to ward off bad luck. It is thought to bring good luck before a performance, and is often said after a mishap while dressing or before going onstage. Merde is actually an ancient expletive that was certainly not positive, but the logic in this one follows that behind “break a leg.”
It is never acceptable to whistle in the dressing room. Doing so is thought to ensure a bad performance. If it is done accidentally, they only way to counteract it is to run out of the dressing room, turn around three times and say “merde.”
If you are going to see a friend perform in a play, you are obligated by “stage etiquette” to visit them backstage afterward. You are also expected to tell them how much you liked their performance. Incidently, you are also expected to lie to them if you didn’t like their acting.
When an actor is backstage waiting to perform, it is considered bad luck to have someone look at them. There could be some merit to this, considering the fact that having someone stare is a sure way to be distracted from what someone needs to be thinking about.
Although actors are known to sneak a peak through a peephole in the curtain (most theatres have them), it is considered bad luck to be told who is in the audience. It makes actors nervous if they are told that friends, critics, or important people are there to watch their performance.
Rituals can also be comforting. Actor Jack Lemmon always spoke the same line before he went onstage or did a “take” in a film. He would always say “It’s magic time.”
Other articles by Bren Parks include:
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User Comments
eddiego65
On December 7, 2008 at 12:59 am
Interesting superstitions! Great work!
thestickman
On December 9, 2008 at 6:57 am
Paul Lynde of the old TV quiz show “Hollywood Squares” used to sit in a square ‘on the out edge’ of the 9-blocked tic-tac-toe thing. A minor earthquake rattled the set once during the show, and scared, he (being the only regular ‘panelist’ and considered to be the focal point of the show) demanded that his ’square’ be the CENTER one. Supposedly, this would be the most ’stable’ point structurally if an earthquake should hit.
While not superstition, it is kind of quirky. He actually ended up dying of natural causes, years later (heart attack, I think.)
And there’s that whole Carol Burnett thing about tugging on her earlobe when a show was over… for good luck. Actually, ‘luck’ was on her side all along. -When she came to NYC in her youth for her ‘big break’ in show business, “HURRICANE CAROL” was hitting the east coast on the Atlantic seaboard… she took it as a sign that she would become quite famous.
Bren Parks
On December 9, 2008 at 7:16 am
Very true. Good story about Paul Lynde. I remember watching him and Carol Burnett. I have to tell you though, that I was watching a biography of Carol and they said she tugged on her ear to tell her grandmother she was thinking of her.
Jamie
On January 15, 2009 at 5:02 pm
It’s a bit of a stretch to say that ‘Merde’ is an ancient expletive, since it is actually modern french for sH*t.
extheaterjunkie
On January 15, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Actually, whistling ANYWHERE in the theater is considered bad luck. In the olden days, the men manning the curtains and backdrops (via the “flys”) used to whistle as a means of communication. So if you whistled you might end up with something dropped on your head.
Ostrich feathers are also bad luck.
It is NOT bad luck to have someone look at you while preparing to go onstage. Most directors feel that if the audience can see someone prepping in the wings, it breaks the mood of whatever is happening onstage since the person is out of character and not part of the scene.
stagemanager137
On January 16, 2009 at 1:07 pm
extheatrejunkie is correct about the whistling, it stems from a very practical practice in the theatre based on how things used to be run.
I’d also like to point out that most theatres actually have a policy not to let anyone in the dressing rooms. It is considered unprofessional for actors to let anyone see them in their makeup or costume (unless for a specific reason like a scheduled Meet and Great). Not letting others in the dressing rooms also for security (both for actors and the props, set, etc.)
As far as telling an actor that you didn’t like their acting, I don’t know about superstitious but it does serve a practical purpose if you decide to keep that to yourself. If not, they will most likely focus on that and not on immersing themselves in the character.
Dee
On January 16, 2009 at 1:32 pm
As several have said, it’s considered bad luck to whistle anywhere in the theatre. While I studied to become a lighting technician, my teacher would be very strict on this rule. Even if we were setting up in a room not usually used for plays (like the lounge or even outside) – the moment it was used for anything theatre-related (usually when the drapes came up or when we started rigging), whistling was a big no-no. It completely put me off whistling for life. I feel guilty every time I whistle, even when at home:p
Also, wearing a jacket when in the theatre (for audience as well as performers and techs), is frowned upon. I’ve heard many reasons, but the one I’ve heard the most is that the audience will feel the need to leave, because the jacket is an “outside” garment.
Bren Parks
On January 16, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Wow! Thanks for sharing, I didn’t know about these things…my drama teacher never told me this, but then again that was high school and before the last ice age…lol
Anom
On January 19, 2009 at 11:59 am
The “break a leg” comment actually comes from Shakespearian times, where in order to bow, actors would bend one knee in front of the other. Breaking a leg, then, meant the actor had done a good enough job to warrant applause.
greghousesgf
On January 19, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I’d heard that wearing green, not yellow was supposed to be bad luck. Also, the Macbeth curse has no actual history of disasters, it’s just a superstition. Macbeth is actually supposed to be bad luck because it’s got witches in it.
Kohl
On January 20, 2009 at 7:03 am
WOW this stuff is intresting man u would never think not to whistle on the set… ive done this B4 at school
Ivy Pandora
On January 20, 2009 at 1:19 pm
some I’d heard, some I hadn’t.
Interesting that the “horrible dress rehearsal” superstition isn’t mentioned. I’ve heard from a few different sources in my years around performers that a really bad final dress rehearsal is indicative of a promising opening night.
I’ve also heard of more specific traditions, actors who will only use “fresh” make up for opening night and the like.
The thing with Merde I had never heard, though I do know the french meaning.
knowitall
On January 21, 2009 at 4:53 am
Back in the 60’s I’d watch Bozo’s Circus on WGN TV in Chicago. So the actor who played Bozo always locked his dressing room door – except once! While he was half in makeup, a little boy wandered in, took one look at Bozo, pointed and screamed “YOU’RE A MAN”!!!” and ran away in tears! Bozo never left the door unlocked again!
adalgisacruz
On January 21, 2009 at 1:22 pm
The custom of no wearing yellow originated in France with the death of Moliere the father of french theater, it is said that he wore yellow at his last performance, becoming inmediately ill and dying the same night. Incidentally, the play was called “Tartufe” about a rich man who pretends to be dying in order to manipulate his family to do his bidding.
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