The unluckiest play in the West End could be Umbrellas of Cherbourg which is now playing at the Gielgud. It is based on the identically named, and critically acclaimed, 1964 film which gave Catherine Deneuve an early outing.
It was the ancient Egyptians who were the source of the myth that it was unlucky to raise an umbrella indoors. The reason is lost in the mists of time. However, given that the play is scheduled to run until 1 October, we may well have confirmation if it does not.
The producers could have considered using the titular promotional product to advertise their next production, you know, just in case. After all, the thing about bad luck is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.
30% of people describe themselves as not superstitious, although some may have felt too embarrassed to admit being so. Mind you, a number of the remaining 70% probably only said they were because they thought it might be unlucky not to do so.
Superstitions should not be confused with customs and traditions. Shoes on the table may well have been started by design. So unless you are using them as plates the imperative is quite clear.
There is no such easy answer with Friday the 13th. The most number of times it can occur in one year is three. The film franchise of the same name, which stopped at number 12 possibly because of superstition, covers only slightly fewer years than Godfather.
Everyone knows that walking under ladders is unlucky. It dates back centuries, as do ladders themselves. One would assume that in 8,000 BC, the date of the earliest image of one in action, there were few ambulance chasing lawyers because there was just the one type. So the excuse of being given the wrong one could be easily disproved.
Most people are merely stitious and this would appear to apply to the backers of Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Let us hope that the critics’ reviews do not cause them to review their opinion. The delightful film is a hard act to follow.