Theme 2: Paranoia and
Superstition
In small groups, come up with a working definition of
Paranoia and Superstition
Paranoia
Superstition
“The General root of superstition is
that men observe when things hit, and
not when they miss, and commit to
memory the one, and pass over the
other.” (Francis Bacon)
Superstition
The following is
humorous anecdote
on our culture’s
fascination with
conspiracy theories.
4 am
Ted: Rives Poetry
Paranoia is an unfounded or exaggerated
distrust of others, sometimes reaching
delusional proportions. Paranoid
individuals constantly suspect the motives
of those around them, and believe that
certain individuals, or people in general,
are "out to get them."
Paranoia
Superstitions
An irrational belief that an object, action,
or circumstance not logically related to a
course of events influences its outcome.
 Prime examples are the:

Guess the common superstition
Connotation vs. Denotation
Connotation
The emotional “attachments”
that are placed on a word.
These are individual to each
Person’s prior knowledge as
an audience.
Examples:
Denotation
The literal meaning of a
word. It’s direct dictionary
meaning.
Examples:
A black cat
holds the
connotation of
evil.
Breaking a mirror = 7 years bad luck!
_______________________________
Some time ago people believed that
reflections were actually glimpses of the
viewers soul.
What are you supposed to do after
spilling the salt!?
Throw a pinch
over your
shoulder!
THEATRE SUPERSTITIONS
Christine E. Wortham
THINK!
What theatrical superstitions have you heard
of before?
“BREAK A LEG!”
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Outsmarting the Sprites
Permanently creased trousers from bowing
Shakespeare: to break = to bend
Lincoln assassination
Vaudeville
Understudies
Ancient Greece: stomping in appreciation
Elizabethan Times: stomping chairs
Actor’s overconfidence
Military term for “taking a knee”
Locked knees
Wooden legs on curtains
ONSTAGE DO’S AND DON’TS

Don’t Wear It!
◦
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Blue (unless you’re also wearing silver)
Yellow (esp. in a tie, vest or hat)
Green
Real jewelry
Don’t Use It!
◦ Peacock feathers (anywhere in the
theatre)
◦ Mirrors

Don’t Say It!
◦ The tag line (last line) of the play
BACKSTAGE DO’S AND DON’TS

Makeup
◦ Apply makeup with a rabbit’s foot
◦ Never clean your makeup box
◦ Never wear brand-new makeup on
opening night
◦ If you drop makeup powder, dance upon it
to bring luck
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Costumes
◦ Never place shoes or hats on chairs/tables
inside dressing rooms
◦ Always exit dressing room left foot first
JUST DON’T DO IT (ONSTAGE
OR OFF)!
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Never say the theatre is closed.
Never whistle.
Absolutely no knitting!
Never open a show on a Friday night.
Never have 3 candles together.
“THE SCOTTISH PLAY”
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Never say “Macbeth” in a theatre, or even quote the
play.
Actual Disasters
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Where it Came From
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◦ Abraham Lincoln’s assassination
◦ Charlton Heston, Orson Welles and Constantine
Stanislavski
◦ 1849 New York riot
◦ Witchcraft – play flirts dangerously with the “Powers of
Evil”
◦ Play is conducive to accidents
 Dim lighting
 Stage combat
 Broadswords
◦ Quick and easy last-minute addition to a theatre’s season
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What to Do
◦ “Angels and ministers of grace defend us!”

Patrick Stewart speaks on the subject:
◦ http://youtu.be/K11gpDbOMx8
“THE SCOTTISH PLAY”
“ALLERGIES”
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Flowers
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Before the play = unlucky
After the play = lucky
Never use real flowers on stage
Closing night tradition
Cats
◦ Kicking them = bad luck
◦ Having one in the theatre = good luck
◦ Having one run across the stage during a
performance = bad luck
MORE!
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Good rehearsals = Bad performances
Good Luck
◦ Stumbling Onstage
 Tripping over a dress hem
◦ Throwing Coal
◦ Pinch
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Unlucky Tunes
◦ I Dreamt That I Dwelt in Marble Halls
◦ The Dead March
◦ Three Blind Mice
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Thread
Curtain Peeking
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http://www.videojug.com/interview/t
heatre-superstitions-2
THEATRE SUPERSTITION INTERVIEW
Chain emails!!! Do you pass them
on?
Irrational importance placed on a
specific object , action or time and
believing it has some influence on
your life!
Theme 2: Fear and Superstitions
How does text portray the consequences
of an individuals mistrust of others
without evidence or justification?