The other reason green was deemed unlucky has to do with famed actor/playwright Molière.This gave it its original nickname, “the limelight.” True to its name, the limelight had a greenish glow to it, so if an actor wore green, he or she might not be visible when hit by the spotlight. Everyone wants to be in the spotlight, right? Well, back in the day when the first spotlight was invented, it worked by burning a chemical called quicklime.Green costumes were thought to be bad luck for two reasons: Wearing a green or blue costume was once thought of as very bad luck, though for very different reasons. While theatrical costumes are now often bright, flashy and full of color, two colors used to be off-limits for the superstitious actor. Therefore, if an actor or someone else were to nonchalantly whistle, it could cause confusion and ruin the show. As such, the backstage crew was often filled with sailors, as they literally “knew the ropes.” Just like on a ship at the time, commands and signals were given with distinct whistles. Back then, all the rigging for the sets, lighting, etc., was all operated by hand using ropes. This superstition stems from the time before mechanized sets and backdrops. Whistling while onstage or backstage in a theatre has long been considered bad luck. Let’s take a look at some of the more common myths and superstitions from the theatre: 1. Some stem from otherworldly beliefs, while others stem from simple logistics. With apologies to Bock, Harnick and Stein, the theatre has many superstitions that must be obeyed to ensure a good performance. And how do we keep our traditions alive? That I can tell you in one word: superstition! You may ask, “Why do we stay up here if it’s so dangerous?” We stay because theatre is our home. Wishing someone to break their leg? Sounds crazy, no? But in our little world of theatre, you might say every one of us is beholden to the grand traditions of the stage, trying to sing out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking their neck.
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