Macbeth

[irmamar]

Is it true that saying Macbeth is supposed to bring bad luck and that instead of saying the name of Shakespeare's paly, people refer to "The Socttish Play"? If it is true, I'd like to know why. Thanks.

[Perikles]

Absolutely true.

From Wiki:-

Those who believe in the curse, claim that real spells are cast in the three witches scene. Some believers claim that including the character Hecate, frequently cut from productions of the play due to questions about her part's authorship, intensifies the curse.
Productions of Macbeth are said to have been plagued with accidents, many ending in death. According to legend, this dates back to the premiere of the play: an actor died because a real dagger was mistakenly used instead of the prop. The play does include more fight scenes and other such opportunities for accidents than does the average play, and the atmosphere in the backstage area of old-fashioned theaters was a prime setting for disasters, especially when dealing with potentially dangerous equipment. This would explain the accidents without invoking magic.
The popularity of the superstition might also be related to its mild hazing aspect. Veteran actors might relate some tale of woe that they witnessed personally due to someone invoking the curse, lending credibility and immediacy to the tale.
One hypothesis for the origin of this superstition is that Macbeth, being a popular play, was commonly put on by theatres in financial trouble, or that the high production costs of Macbeth put theatres in financial trouble, and hence an association was made between a production of Macbeth and theatres going out of business.
According to the superstition, Shakespeare got a few of the lines from an actual coven of witches and when they saw the play they were greatly offended and cursed the play. Another tradition tells that the original propmaster could not find a suitable pot for a cauldron and stole one from a coven, who then cursed the play in revenge for the theft. It is believed that breaking the taboo calls the ghosts of the three witches to the show and it is they who cause all the mishaps. The last, and probably most spectacular view of the curse is that Shakespeare used the curse in the play to actually curse the play himself, guaranteeing that no one other than himself would be able to direct the play.
Another line of thought is that if your play was a flop, the manager of the theatre would take the show off and would always be able to get a theatre company to put on Macbeth as it was always a hit.

[poli]

Confirmed. In the United States too, many actors refer to "MacBeth" as the Scottish play. "MacBeth" is a very great play with many quotable lines.

[laepelba]

I say "doth protest too much" ALL THE TIME!!

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by laepelba

I say "doth protest too much" ALL THE TIME!!

So? I think you had better go and read Hamlet again.

[poli]

What's done cannot be undone (unless you delete)

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by poli

What's done cannot be undone (unless you delete)

Foul whisperings are abroad, methinks.

[poli]

I think with all the new spot removers available, corrupt leaders and their
empowering wives are living happier lives. If they had Carbona back in Mac's day, those two kids would be alive today.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by poli

I think with all the new spot removers available, corrupt leaders and their
empowering wives are living happier lives. If they had Carbona back in Mac's day, those two kids would be alive today.

What do you mean?

[laepelba]

That is SOOOOOO funny!! Yes, you are all correct ... and I missed all the fun while working all day today. DOH!! It's been years and years since I read Hamlet OR Macbeth. LOL!!

I believe, Irma, that they are teasing me about wishing I could delete my obviously erroneous comment ... and "out out damn spot" is what Lady Macbeth said when she felt like she couldn't wash the blood from her hands after the murder.

Guys - am I right???

[irmamar]

Don't worry.

[JPablo]

Well, I guess U and I may not get the full significance of all the comments, unless we read the originals M and H...

At any rate, probably the most quoted quote (allow my fool cacophony) is the one that goes,

Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

Mmm... is it all that futile?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Guys - am I right???

Yep - spot on !!