Backstage Superstitions

The Curse
There are a lot of people in the theater who believe that Macbeth is a cursed play. Some say that more accidents and bad luck are connected with that play than with any other. The superstition follows that any company performing the play will be beset with horrible luck, ranging anywhere from uncanny accidents on the set to actual deaths within the company! In fact, in many parts, it is not only the production of the play that will strike fear, but quoting from the play or even the mere mention of the name Macbeth inside a theatre, be it the stage, the house, the lobby, or especially the dressing rooms will bring on the curse.

Origins of the curse
There are many origins for this superstition. Old actors believe the witches' song in Macbeth to possess the uncanny power of casting evil spells. Many actors, especially in England, avoid Matthew Locke's music for the play, quoting numerous stories of ill-fates befallen to those who have played, sung, or hummed it within the theatre walls. The reasons for this fear usually bring tales of accidents and ill-fortunes that have plagued productions of the play through the world. Certainly, too, the play's darkness (the word "dark" or its synonyms appears in it more than in any other of Shakespeare's plays, and "love" appears less than in most of his plays), the presence of "the weird sisters," and the growth of evil combine to give it raw destructive power. 

Another belief
Some say the actual reason for this fear is much more sensible and rarely known by theatre people. They believe the superstition actually began in the old days of stock companies, which would struggle at all times to remain in business. Frequently, near the end of a season a stock company would realize that it was not going to break even and, in an attempt to boost ticket sales and attendance, would announce production of a crowd favorite . . . Macbeth. If times were particularly bad, even 'the bard's play' would not be enough to save the company so Macbeth often predicted the end of a company's season, and would frequently be a forewarning of the company's demise. Therefore, the fear of Macbeth was generally the fear of bad business and of an entire company being put out of work.

Reversing the curse
Any actor using the "M" word in a dressing room should immediately leave the room, turn around three times, break wind or spit, knock on the door and ask permission to re-enter. Alternatively, (and less cumbersomely) the line "Angels and ministers of grace defend us," (Hamlet 1.iv) can be quoted.

This is what some people say. What do you think, or what have you heard?  Let us know at info@sheebles.com

References
This material is intended for educational purposes only and was originally published as part of:
Theatrical Superstitions and Saints, by Louis E. Catron.
New Penguin: Shakespeare
Cambridge School: Shakespeare 
Cassell's Companion To Theatre, 1997