And, what are theater folk super superstitious about?

By Jessica Sage

Hi Jessica,  

As you say, one of the most frustrating experiences is when an actor’s voice and dialect is not enunciated or is too soft. What can an audience member do? Impolite to screech out something, but what? I don’t know how to address this problem as a theatergoer, but would like to know. It’s better to have a way to engage rather than just not going to the theater.

Thanks for reading,

Susan D.

Hi Susan,

Your question reminds me of an experience I had as an audience member. When Dan Donohue played the title role in Shakespeare’s “Henry V” at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, there was a scene where Henry is given a gift of tennis balls as an insult. Henry is enraged, but instead of shouting, he speaks his next line in a lower tone. Someone in the back of the audience yelled, “Louder.” Dan spoke his next line half as audibly as the one before. It was very effective. The audience applauded with delight!

Obviously, I’m not advocating for audiences to shout at the actors during a performance. I greet my audience at the door after they leave every performance, and they often give me feedback. (Gratefully, it’s usually positive.) If I hear more than once that people can’t hear a particular actor in a specific scene, I’ll pass that on to our stage manager Kimberley Barry, and she’ll speak with the actor. That’s an easy and quick fix to a problem. You can also email or call a theater and ask the stage manager to relay your issue to the actor. If nothing else, you’re doing a good deed for the next audience.

Dear Jessica,

I’ve heard theater people are superstitious. What are some of your favorites?

Thank you for your column.

Sara T.

Hi Sara,

It’s true. Theater people are a superstitious lot all right! There are definitely some strange superstitions out there. My favorite — just because it’s so unusual — is the warning to never bring a peacock feather on stage.

Probably the most famous superstition is the “Scottish curse”: never utter the word “Macbeth” in a theater. If you do, you have to exit the theater, spin around three times, and spit.

I wrote about saying “break a leg” instead of “good luck” before an opening performance in last month’s newsletter.

Then there are the superstitions that whistling backstage is considered a jinx, that a bad dress rehearsal means the show is going to be a hit, and that wearing the colors blue and yellow will cause actors to forget lines.

More? Wearing green is unlucky, and the last person leaving the theater must turn on the ghost light (mentioned in our October newsletter).

Also, you’re not supposed to light three candles on stage; mirrors on stage are bad luck; you shouldn’t give an actor flowers before a show; actors should never peek from behind the curtain to see the audience; theaters generally are dark on Mondays to give ghosts a night to perform; and putting shoes on a dressing room table brings the risk of a bad performance.

The list goes on…

As I said, theater folks are superstitious. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Wishing you happy holidays and excellent health in the New Year. Oh, and avoid walking under a ladder, just to be sure!

Theater lovers, what would you like to know about theater, acting, stagecraft, etc.? Send your questions to [email protected]. Bring up the houselights, and let’s have some fun!

Jessica Sage is artistic director of Rogue Theater Company (roguetheatercompany.com).