Why is the Shakespearean "scottish play" bad luck?

 

This is a strange question for someone who has lived and breathed theatre for years, so please don't judge.

Why is the Shakespearean "scottish play" bad luck? I mean, you can't even say its' name in a theatre without having to exorcise in some silly way! I've tried looking it up, but the answers are unsatisfactory. And the people I work with (who would actually know) refuse to talk about it.

I have a show coming up in a month or so and I didn't want to mention the name (just in case). Could you enlighten me?

 

Bad shit happens.  Me, I haven't been in a play since 9th grade, so I'll say it: MACBETH!

Bad shit has been happening around "Macbeth" since OPENING FUCKING NIGHT! 

"Sceptics have pointed out that a play involving so many battles, duels and murders, taking place mostly at night (meaning dim lighting), is bound to cause accidents. Playing “that Play” is emotionally and physically exhausting, and you have to get up and down steps and rostrums, and even with blunted swords, cuts and bruises are only to be expected…"

Oh, really???  And have these sceptics ever staged it and broken their own goddamn leg?  I don't think so.  The Doctor knows the score.  There was juju around Billy.

A quite rich exploration of The Curse of.....................MACBETH!.........can be found here:

http://writinghood.com/literature/topical/the-curse-of-shakespeares-scottish-play-macbeth/

 

Enjoy!  And keep your goddamn mouth shut and make sure you've got a valid insurance card on you. 

Good luck.  Ohhhh, you know what I mean!

Comments

[Trouble]

Gah! I'll kill you! It's "Break a leg!"

You know better...

Thanks for the info!

[Amy W.]

One time Jeff almost said "Macbeth" backstage at the Shakespeare Tavern. Almost. He realized and stopped himself right in the middle and wound up saying "Mac..Scottish!" Those people are serious about that shit- the moment that first syllable escaped his lips, everyone's eyes flew open and there was a collective gasp. Sheesh. I like saying MacScottish, though.

[Sarina]

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