The Curse!The Curse!

FeracoFeraco

Search for Human PotentialSearch for Human Potential

7 November 20117 November 2011

Believe it or not, there are actually two Believe it or not, there are actually two curses related to the playcurses related to the play

With respect to the first one, individuals With respect to the first one, individuals shouldn’t even say the word “Macbeth” in shouldn’t even say the word “Macbeth” in a theatera theater Rehearsals and performances excludedRehearsals and performances excluded Alternatives: “MacB,” or (more popularly) “The Alternatives: “MacB,” or (more popularly) “The

Scottish Play.”Scottish Play.”

Generally speaking, “Macbeth” is only a Generally speaking, “Macbeth” is only a cursed term inside a theater, and not, say, cursed term inside a theater, and not, say, a classroom or a cineplex. a classroom or a cineplex. If you have to say the name – for whatever If you have to say the name – for whatever

reason – try to confine your usage to these reason – try to confine your usage to these safe zones.safe zones.

Curse(s)Curse(s)

If Someone Says It…If Someone Says It… You can take measures to ward off the curseYou can take measures to ward off the curse Make the speaker leave! Make the speaker leave! The offender must close the door, turn around The offender must close the door, turn around

three times, curse (or spit), then knock on the three times, curse (or spit), then knock on the door and ask to be allowed back inside. door and ask to be allowed back inside. (Theoretically, this is the part where you let them back (Theoretically, this is the part where you let them back

in…although if you choose not to do so, it is their fault in…although if you choose not to do so, it is their fault for putting themselves in that situation to begin with)for putting themselves in that situation to begin with)

Also, if you choose to banish them, you’re merely Also, if you choose to banish them, you’re merely exploring one of Shakespeare’s central themes. exploring one of Shakespeare’s central themes. (Just pointing that out.)(Just pointing that out.)

If all else fails, steal from If all else fails, steal from HamletHamlet (Act I, Scene IV) (Act I, Scene IV) and yell: “Angels and ministers of grace defend and yell: “Angels and ministers of grace defend us!”us!”

I used the spitting one three years ago - I I used the spitting one three years ago - I couldn’t remember the couldn’t remember the Hamlet Hamlet lineline Thanks, Ben!Thanks, Ben!

The second popular belief about The second popular belief about MacbethMacbeth is that the play – and is that the play – and subsequent productions of it – are subsequent productions of it – are cursed, not just the namecursed, not just the name

Indeed, there are plenty of bloody Indeed, there are plenty of bloody examples from Macbeth’s examples from Macbeth’s notoriously troubled history that notoriously troubled history that support this beliefsupport this belief

You’ll have to decide for yourself You’ll have to decide for yourself whether the belief is valid, of course whether the belief is valid, of course

The Other CurseThe Other Curse

As legend has it, the curses are As legend has it, the curses are actually Shakespeare’s faultactually Shakespeare’s fault

Rather than make up his own witch Rather than make up his own witch chants and curses, he used chants and curses, he used “authentic” ones“authentic” ones

““Real” witches were supposedly so Real” witches were supposedly so infuriated by Shakespeare’s infuriated by Shakespeare’s transgression that they placed an transgression that they placed an eternal hex on the playeternal hex on the play

Seems like a high price to pay for Seems like a high price to pay for authenticity…authenticity…

Don’t Make the Witches MadDon’t Make the Witches Mad

Supposedly, the actor playing Lady Supposedly, the actor playing Lady Macbeth (he happened to be male – but Macbeth (he happened to be male – but anyone who has seen anyone who has seen Shakespeare in Love Shakespeare in Love probably already assumed that) grew sick probably already assumed that) grew sick and died backstage during the first and died backstage during the first production of the playproduction of the play

Shakespeare had to take the stage and Shakespeare had to take the stage and assume the role in order to finish the assume the role in order to finish the performanceperformance

Some even claim that the playwright did Some even claim that the playwright did such a poor job that he angrily ordered his such a poor job that he angrily ordered his actors to never refer to the play by its actors to never refer to the play by its name (thus starting the “don’t say the name (thus starting the “don’t say the name!” curse)name!” curse)

The Trouble Begins EarlyThe Trouble Begins Early

MacbethMacbeth joined the venerable ranks of joined the venerable ranks of banned literature in 1606banned literature in 1606

King James I of England believed that the King James I of England believed that the witch chants contained within the play witch chants contained within the play were too realistic (I wonder why?), and were too realistic (I wonder why?), and banned the production for five years after banned the production for five years after first watching itfirst watching it

Once production resumed, it didn’t seem Once production resumed, it didn’t seem like a very problematic playlike a very problematic play

It took a few years for the Macbeth curses It took a few years for the Macbeth curses to really “kick in,” and to therefore take to really “kick in,” and to therefore take hold in popular culturehold in popular culture

Ban / Burn / Make It StopBan / Burn / Make It Stop

Oddly enough, more documented Oddly enough, more documented instances exist in the 20th century than instances exist in the 20th century than during earlier periods; however, the more during earlier periods; however, the more serious incidents generally took place at serious incidents generally took place at least fifty years agoleast fifty years ago

In 1672, the actor playing Macbeth In 1672, the actor playing Macbeth switched the dulled prop dagger for a switched the dulled prop dagger for a real, sharpened blade – and stabbed the real, sharpened blade – and stabbed the actor playing Duncan to death in front of actor playing Duncan to death in front of the paying audiencethe paying audience

Don’t bring kids to this play – you never Don’t bring kids to this play – you never know what might happenknow what might happen

Stabby StabbyStabby Stabby

The opening run of the 1703 production The opening run of the 1703 production was canceled when England was hit by was canceled when England was hit by one of the most tremendous storms in its one of the most tremendous storms in its historyhistory

A rude nobleman stood up during a A rude nobleman stood up during a performance in 1721 and walked across performance in 1721 and walked across the stage in order to go talk to his friendthe stage in order to go talk to his friend

After the actors chased him away, he After the actors chased him away, he returned with a band of militiamen who returned with a band of militiamen who promptly burned the theater to the promptly burned the theater to the ground ground

The actress playing Lady Macbeth in 1775 The actress playing Lady Macbeth in 1775 was nearly attacked by an audience who was nearly attacked by an audience who disliked her performancedisliked her performance

Moving Through the Years…Moving Through the Years…

William Charles Macready and Edwin William Charles Macready and Edwin Forrest were rivals, and the two staged Forrest were rivals, and the two staged competing productions of competing productions of MacbethMacbeth in New in New York City on May 10, 1849York City on May 10, 1849 Drama nerd smackdown!Drama nerd smackdown!

Forrest’s fans threw fruit and chairs at Forrest’s fans threw fruit and chairs at Macready during his performance, which Macready during his performance, which led (naturally) to a riot led (naturally) to a riot

The militia was called, arrived, and The militia was called, arrived, and promptly fired on the crowdpromptly fired on the crowd

More than twenty people were killed, and More than twenty people were killed, and over thirty others were woundedover thirty others were wounded

As anyone in Advanced Drama can attest, As anyone in Advanced Drama can attest, that’s just another night at the theatre…that’s just another night at the theatre…

More Fun With MilitiasMore Fun With Militias

Abraham Lincoln read the scenes Abraham Lincoln read the scenes immediately following Duncan’s immediately following Duncan’s assassination to an audience of his assassination to an audience of his friends (no word on whether he was friends (no word on whether he was in a theater)in a theater)

A week later, Lincoln himself would A week later, Lincoln himself would be assassinated (in a theater, no be assassinated (in a theater, no less)less)

In 1926, another actor tried to In 1926, another actor tried to strangle the actress playing Lady strangle the actress playing Lady Macbeth – and nearly succeededMacbeth – and nearly succeeded

Awkward Historical FactsAwkward Historical Facts

A large set collapsed in 1928, A large set collapsed in 1928, seriously injuring many members of seriously injuring many members of the crewthe crew

Also in 1937, a heavy counterweight Also in 1937, a heavy counterweight fell to the stage during the fell to the stage during the performance, missing lead actor performance, missing lead actor Laurence Olivier by inchesLaurence Olivier by inches

During a production run in 1942, During a production run in 1942, three actors died and the set three actors died and the set designer committed suicidedesigner committed suicide

Look Up, Look Out…Look Up, Look Out…

On a Thursday night in1945, actor Harold On a Thursday night in1945, actor Harold Norman was killed onstage during the Norman was killed onstage during the fight in Act Vfight in Act V His ghost is said to haunt that theater every His ghost is said to haunt that theater every

ThursdayThursday The actress playing Lady Macbeth walked The actress playing Lady Macbeth walked

off the stage and fell fifteen feet during off the stage and fell fifteen feet during her sleepwalking scene (she would return her sleepwalking scene (she would return and finish the play)and finish the play)

Charleton Heston was almost killed during Charleton Heston was almost killed during an outdoor production in 1953, when an outdoor production in 1953, when flames and smoke were blown into the flames and smoke were blown into the audience during the siege on Macbeth’s audience during the siege on Macbeth’s castlecastle

Heston suffered severe trauma to his legs Heston suffered severe trauma to his legs and groin because his tights had been and groin because his tights had been soaked in kerosene by mistakesoaked in kerosene by mistake

New Definition of “Trauma”New Definition of “Trauma”

The list goes on; suffice it to say that this The list goes on; suffice it to say that this is a fairly troubled playis a fairly troubled play

Granted, we Granted, we have have been performing it for been performing it for four centuries – things are bound to go four centuries – things are bound to go wrong over that span of timewrong over that span of time

I don’t know if there’s a curse…but you I don’t know if there’s a curse…but you definitely won’t see me running into a definitely won’t see me running into a theater and shouting the name any time theater and shouting the name any time soonsoon

Remember, Giannina Nurena tested this a Remember, Giannina Nurena tested this a couple of years ago and ended up with couple of years ago and ended up with broken bones!broken bones!

Also, this presentation is 13 slides long…Also, this presentation is 13 slides long…just sayin’.just sayin’.

So…Is There a Curse?So…Is There a Curse?