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A Very Superstitious Dinner

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What happens when a birthday dinner falls on Friday the 13th? In A Very Superstitious Dinner, a group of friends gathers to celebrate, but one guest believes that bad luck is hiding behind every little detail. From spilled salt to lucky charms, this playful comedy shows how superstitions can turn a joyful moment into a nervous one—and how friendship and laughter can save the day.

A Very Superstitious Dinner. A vibrant, cartoon-style illustration showing a chaotic birthday dinner on Friday the 13th. Five friends are seated around a checkered table with a birthday cake. The birthday person (Scott) is smiling broadly in the center, seemingly oblivious. Behind him, the superstitious friend (Monique, with wild hair) is suspended mid-air, screaming in panic while desperately trying to light a match, sitting precariously near a broken mirror and an open ladder. A black cat is walking by the broken mirror. The number '13' with bat wings hangs over the scene, and a calendar in the background clearly reads 'Friday the 13th.' A pile of spilled salt is visible on the table.
When your friend’s superstitions crash your birthday party! 🎂 Fear of Friday the 13th is real, and Monique is bringing ALL the bad luck charms (and rituals) to the table. Will Scott even get to make a wish, or will Monique break a mirror, step on a crack, and cross a black cat’s path first?

CHARACTERS: 

LIZ 

MONIQUE

ANDREA

JOE 

SCOTT 

WAITER (no dialogue)

SCRIPT: 

(Liz, Monique, Andrea, Joe, and Scott are eating at a restaurant.)

SCOTT: Thank you, guys, for celebrating my birthday in my favorite restaurant. I really appreciate that!

LIZ: What a coincidence! It’s Friday the 13th, and it also happens to be your birthday!

MONIQUE: (Slamming her palms on the table) Why did you have to mention the date!

ANDREA: Did you break up with your boyfriend on a Friday the 13th?

MONIQUE: (Yelling, then quickly knocking three times on the table) No! Knock on wood! Don’t jinx this dinner!

LIZ: Don’t stress yourself out, Monique… and don’t yell. We’re not deaf!

MONIQUE: Why shouldn’t I be worried? Today is an unlucky day!

SCOTT: It is not! Today is my birthday!

JOE: Actually, in some cultures, the unlucky day is Tuesday the 13th. Friday the 13th is a lucky day!

MONIQUE: Oh, come on! Remember the movie Friday the 13th? Nothing good ever happens!

LIZ: That’s not true.

MONIQUE: You clearly didn’t watch the movie!

SCOTT: (to everyone) Can someone please pass me the salt?

(Andrea gives him the salt shaker, passing it directly into his hand.)

SCOTT: Thanks.

MONIQUE: (Gasping, grabs the salt shaker from Scott and slams it onto the table.) What is wrong with you two! NEVER pass the salt from hand to hand!

ANDREA: Why?

MONIQUE: If you pass the salt, you pass the sorrow! You must put it down first, and the other person takes it. Just leave the salt on the table! Do you understand?

(Andrea and Scott laugh. Scott deliberately takes the salt and shakes it dramatically over his food. Some salt spills onto the table.)

MONIQUE: Oh my God! (She draws a quick cross over the spilled salt with her index finger, then picks up a pinch of salt with her right hand and throws it dramatically over her left shoulder.)

LIZ: What are you doing now?

MONIQUE: I had to throw the salt in the Devil’s eyes! Spilled salt is often considered a bad omen.

ANDREA: That’s scary!

LIZ: And what is the “bad luck curse” this time?

MONIQUE: Our friendship will be broken! I just removed the curse with the salt toss.

JOE: How can you possibly believe in all that stuff?

ANDREA: (Shivering) It’s so cold in here!

LIZ: Put on your sweater.

ANDREA: I left it in Monique’s car. (To Monique) Hey, lend me your car keys, I need to get it.

(Monique opens her purse, takes out the keys, and hands them to Andrea. Andrea takes the keys, but suddenly throws them onto the table with a shout.)

ANDREA: Oh my, what is that hairy thing!

MONIQUE: (Calmly picks up the keys) Oh, that’s my keychain… It’s the left hind foot of a rabbit that I use as a charm.

ANDREA: (Takes out a hand sanitizer from her purse and vigorously rubs it onto her hands) I’ll be lucky if I don’t get sick just by touching that scary thing!

SCOTT: Are you crazy? How can you carry a dead animal’s foot?

MONIQUE: It’s an amulet! It brings good luck and protects me from the evil eye.

LIZ: That’s not good luck, Monique. If it were so lucky, the rabbit would still have all four feet.

JOE: (To Monique) Give me the keys. I’ll get the sweater.

(Monique gives him the keys. Joe stands up and starts to walk toward the door. Monique stands up rapidly and blocks him.)

MONIQUE: Come back and sit down!

JOE: Why? What did I do?

MONIQUE: (Pushes Joe back into his chair) You started walking with your left foot! That means you will have a bad day!

(She pulls Joe up to make him stand.)

MONIQUE: Now, stand up. (She takes him by the shoulders and makes him spin) Spin three times! Then start walking with your right foot.

LIZ: (To Monique) Ha ha ha! You are completely ridiculous!

JOE: (Sits down, holding his head) I feel dizzy!

ANDREA: (To Joe) Forget the sweater, I’m not cold anymore.

(A waiter approaches with a birthday cake and lit candles. He places the cake on the table, and then he leaves.)

SCOTT: Oh, what a nice surprise!

LIZ: Yummy!

JOE: Everybody sing!

LIZ, MONIQUE, ANDREA, JOE: Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday dear Scott, Happy birthday to you!

(They applaud.)

ANDREA: (To Scott) Make a wish and blow out the candles!

(Scott finishes blowing out the candles, but not all of them go out. Everyone applauds.)

MONIQUE: Wait! You didn’t blow them all out in one breath! That means—

SCOTT: (Laughing gently) It means I get another wish!

(He blows out the remaining candles. Monique relaxes.)

MONIQUE: Oh… well… that should work too.

LIZ: Monique, don’t you think all these superstitions are making you a little too nervous?

JOE: Yeah, instead of enjoying the party, you’re worrying about everything that could go wrong.

ANDREA: And nothing bad happened! We’re still friends, we’re still laughing, and Scott is still having a great birthday.

MONIQUE: Maybe… maybe you’re right. I guess I let my fears take control.

SCOTT: Superstitions can be fun stories, but birthdays are about joy, not bad luck.

MONIQUE: (Smiling shyly) I’m sorry, everyone. I’ll try to relax… at least for tonight.

LIZ: That’s the best birthday wish of all!

(They all laugh.)

JOE: Now let’s eat cake before it brings us bad luck!

(Everyone laughs again. They gather around the cake.)

ALL: Happy Birthday, Scott!

The End

Author: K I D S I N C O

Conclusion: Monique realizes that her fears were stealing the joy from a special moment. By choosing to relax and trust her friends, she learns that happiness does not depend on superstitions, but on sharing laughter, kindness, and cake with the people we love.

Moral of the story: Superstitions should never be stronger than friendship, joy, and common sense.

Moral Values: 

  • Friendship
  • Open-mindedness
  • Self-awareness
  • Letting go of fear
  • Enjoying the present moment
  • Respecting different beliefs without letting them control us

Educational Goals: 

  • Understand what superstitions are
  • Practice expressive dialogue and timing
  • Learn that fear can take joy away
  • Value friendship and common sense

Pre-Performance Discussion Questions:

  • What is a superstition?
  • Do superstitions exist in different cultures?
  • Can believing too much in bad luck change how we feel?

Simple Staging Suggestions:

  • One table and chairs
  • A fake cake with candles
  • Salt shaker (empty or with rice)
  • Keychain prop

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