William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” is not only known for its gripping tale of ambition and treachery but also for an eerie legacy that has given it a reputation of being cursed. For centuries, superstitious thespians have whispered about the “Scottish curse,” afraid to utter the play’s name within the sacred walls of a theatre lest they invoke disaster.
In theatrical circles, the play is often referred to euphemistically as “The Scottish Play” or “The Bard’s Play.” This tradition stems from a longstanding belief that saying “Macbeth” in a theatre, except when performing or rehearsing, invites calamity. To avoid the curse, people have gotten creative with nicknames, like “Mackers” or referencing the lead roles as “the Scottish King” and “Lady M.”
The origins of this superstition are shrouded in mystery and folklore. One prevalent tale suggests that a coven of witches cursed the play because Shakespeare used real incantations. Another theory posits that since “Macbeth” was frequently performed by struggling theatres due to its popularity, it became associated with financial ruin, as highlighted in Martin Harrison’s book “The Language of Theatre.”
The curse is said to have a string of unfortunate incidents to its name. According to legend, the initial performance of the play around 1606 was marred by misfortune. The actor cast as Lady Macbeth met an untimely demise, prompting Shakespeare himself to step into the role. There are also tales of calamities, such as the use of actual daggers instead of stage props during the murder of King Duncan, leading to the actor’s fatal injury.
Misfortune continued to shadow the play in subsequent events. The well-known Astor Place Riot in New York in 1849, fueled by the rivalry between American actor Edwin Forrest and English actor William Charles Macready, resulted in a tragic toll of at least 20 deaths and over 100 injuries. Both Forrest and Macready were concurrently portraying Macbeth in competing productions.
To break the curse, a series of cleansing rituals have been passed down. These include exiting the theatre, spinning around three times, spitting, cursing, and then knocking to be allowed back in. Popular culture has often parodied these rituals, showing just how ingrained the superstition is in theatre lore.
Despite the ominous history, some, like Patrick Stewart, believe that once an actor has played Macbeth, they’re immune to the curse, asserting, “if you have played the role of the Scottish thane, then you are allowed to say the title, any time anywhere.”
Even recently, the curse was jokingly blamed for strange occurrences. At the 94th Academy Awards, Chris Rock mentioned “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” and moments later, the infamous incident involving Will Smith occurred, leading some to connect the two events humorously.
Relevant articles:
– THE CURSE OF THE SCOTTISH PLAY
– The Curse of the Scottish Play
– The Curse of the Scottish Play