Unlucky Charms

There are a plethora of objects believed to be unlucky in Theaters. Here are the most common:

Peacocks in any form

The feathers or fans or even peacock designs on the stage are thought to be extremely unlucky. They are blamed for causing numerous theatrical failures.

Real jewels

Real antiques

Imitations of all these things are supposed to be used instead. There are two practical reasons for not using real jewels or antiques; they do not look as good as fakes, and they can be lost and/or damaged.

Real food

Real food is often difficult to eat on stage. Theatrical properties people are to use food that looks like its the real thing but not. An example would be the use of a twinkie as a leg of chicken. Many theaters, COS's is no exception, find that twinkies can be used to represent a large variety of food.

Real flowers

Real flowers need water in the vase, and if they are accidentally knocked over during a play there is a slipping hazard, plus a mess on stage. Hugget also tells of an actress once slipping on a petal, breaking her leg and suing the theater.

Real bibles

It is considered not only bad luck, but also disrespectful to use a real bible on stage. Instead a props department must take an ordinary book and paint it to look like a bible.

Cats

Cats on the other hand, are thought to be lucky in the theater, that is as long as they are content to watch plays from the wings. A black cat is supposed to be an even more infallible source of good luck. It is said that all around the theatre world, dark felines are treated with the greatest care and consideration. (Burnham) If a cat crosses the stage though, it is thought to be a terrible omen.