Theatrical Superstitions Trivia Quiz

Answer: Macbeth

The very mention of the name of this play can bring calamity to a production. Actors only refer to it as 'The Scottish play'. Speaking lines of dialogue, especially the witches' parts, is especially dangerous. There are several ways to 'undo' this bad luck, such as spitting, turning around three times, or leaving the theater and knocking to be let back in. Purists, however, will insist on the one true remedy: the offender must be punched in the face hard enough to draw blood.

Answer: Whistling

Actors take this one seriously. It comes from the old days of theater, when stagehands (many of them out of work sailors) would raise and lower scenery in response to a whistled cue. Randomly whistling backstage could result in an embarrassing or dangerous scene change at the wrong time.

Answer: Leave a light on backstage

One must always leave a 'ghost light' burning somewhere to drive off the spirits of productions past (or, more likely, to prevent anyone from falling off the stage as they search for the light switch).

Every theater should be closed one day a week (usually Monday), so the ghosts have a chance to perform their own plays.

Answer: Playing cards

Bibles are considered bad luck. When the script calls for one, a fake cover is usually placed on another book. It's not advisable to use real food, due to the risks of spoilage (one theater company molds Twinkies into whatever food is called for). Jewelry and money used on stage should be fake, so no one will walk off with it (speaking as someone whose wallet was once emptied during rehearsal, it's also bad luck to keep money backstage). Real flowers should be avoided, as they don't age well. Mirrors are not to be used, as they distract the actors and can reflect the lights. Peacock feathers must never be on stage, as they promote the evil eye.

Answer: Wish them luck

Wishing an actor good luck means they'll have terrible luck. 'Break a leg' is the common substitute. On the same note, flowers should be delivered to an actor after, never before, a show.

Answer: A bad dress rehearsal

"Bad dress rehearsal, good opening night," so goes the saying. Maybe it's just wishful thinking. Perhaps a good dress rehearsal might cause actors to be over-confident and careless. In case the dress rehearsal does go well, the actors should not speak the last line of the play, so the final run through won't be perfect.

Answer: All of them

Actually, actors have a phobia about throwing out things from their makeup boxes. It's considered bad luck to clean them out.

You never know how your makeup will fare under the lights, so it's best to use something you've tested.

If you're carrying around your own makeup box, you'll look like a novice and never be awarded a big contract.

Answer: Blue

In the early days of theater, blue was a very expensive dye to create. If a production used a lot of blue costumes, that meant they were burning money and would not turn a profit. However, if they wore a lot of silver with their blue, that meant they had a wealthy backer and could afford to be extravagant.

Answer: A yellow clarinet

For some reason, a yellow clarinet is the most unlucky instrument of all and will spell doom for a musical production.

Answer: A cat

A cat, especially a black cat, is very good luck in a theater. However, if it should run on stage during a production, that's an ill omen.

Thanks for playing. I got my info from my own experiences in theater, as well as from Kevin Robertson's dissertation on theater superstitions and Swingle Studios.

Now break a leg!