Don't Whistle in the Theater!
There are many theater superstitions. Many of them have roots in history, some are just outlandish. That's part of the fun of theater - learning the traditions and superstitions. We all wish to have the best shows possible, so most of us follow these superstitions.
Amazon Spotlight on Theater Supersitions
Don't Whistle in the Dressing Room: A Treasury of Theater Traditions and Superstitions
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Release Date: 12/31/1969
The Scottish Play
Most actors know this rule - don't utter the name of "The Scottish Play" otherwise known as Macbeth inside a theater or certain disaster looms for your production!Shakespeare's Macbeth is a play that has been fraught with disaster over its many years. There are many purported reasons for the myth of The Scottish Play and why its name must not be spoken ranging from the play containing actual spells that the three sisters or witches chant, that the play is associated with financial disaster for theaters or numerous accidents and deaths that occurred during runs of this show.
When the play opened is 1606, the lad playing Lady Macbeth died of a fever. It is said that during the 1942 production with John Gielgud that three actors died and a costumer committed suicide.
The Scottish Play isn't a pretty thing no matter how you look at it. Best not tempt fate and utter its real name.
Links on Theater Superstitions
- Macshush!
- NEW YORK Caution be damned. The three women playing the Weird Sisters in the Shakespeare in the Park production of "Macbeth," previews of which begin tomorrow night, are not afraid to utter the scariest word in the history of theater. They do not fear the two modest syllables, the seven...
- Superstitions
- Theater Superstitions
Don't Whistle, please!
Whistling in a theater is asking for certain disaster - don't do it!
From Kevin Robertson's Dissertation: "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."
Robertson, Kevin. Dissertation on Theatre Superstitions http://www.angelfire.com/fl3/Defymcbeth/Super3.html
From Kevin Robertson's Dissertation: "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."
Robertson, Kevin. Dissertation on Theatre Superstitions http://www.angelfire.com/fl3/Defymcbeth/Super3.html
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Break A Leg!
It's unlucky to wish an actor "good luck" before a performance. They say it's bad luck. There are any number of reasons for this theatrical tradition, none of which have necessarily been verified. But still - don't say "good luck" to your friend before the show!
Check out more on "Break A Leg" here.
Check out more on "Break A Leg" here.
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