Oh, this is one of my favorite stories.
I was working on a major new production of an opera . . . big house, big name singers, who shall remain nameless.
There were maybe 4 hand props in the entire show. The leading soprano goes onstage without the dagger which is central to this incredibly long and boring scene that she's in. Realizing she's forgotten it, we are scrambling backstage to try to get a super who can "ninja" this dagger out to her in some way, when the soprano takes matters into her own hands, changes the blocking, crosses the stage and leans against the downstage side of the SR doorway. She leans offstage and "whispers" as loudly as she can "DAGGER!", (while making an exaggerating stabbing motion in the air) and goes back to leaning up against the door frame.
Perfect. So I run the dagger over to her to hand it to her . . .and I'm literally standing RIGHT next to her . . .and she won't take it. The pocket that this dagger needs to go into is on the onstage side of this HUGE white dress she is wearing. So . . .the audience saw my hand reach across her and her dress, with the dagger, put the dagger in the pocket, and disappear. Not awkward at all.
Now, granted, she had walked past all four stage managers and none of us realized she didn't have it until it was too late.
The next performance, she forgot the only other hand prop she had in the show.