Download Curse of Macbeth

The Curse of Macbeth
The "Curse of Macbeth" is the misfortune that happens during the production of the play.
The theory goes that Shakespeare included actual black magic spells in the incantations of the weird sisters. Those
who appear in the play or those who mention the play's name within the confines of a theatre risk having these evils
brought down on their heads.
The tragedy of Macbeth is considered so unlucky that it is hardly ever called by name inside the profession. People
refer to the play as "that play”, “the unmentionable" or "the Scottish play." It is supposed to be bad luck to quote from the
play or to use any sets, costumes, or props from a production. The play partly acquired its evil reputation because of the
weird sisters and partly because tradition traces a long line of disasters back to its premier on August 7, 1606.
The boy actor playing Lady Macbeth died back stage on opening night. In 1934, four actors played Macbeth in a single
week. In 1937, Macbeth had to be postponed for three days after a change in directors and because of the death of Lilian
Boylis. In 1954, the portrait of Lilian Boylis crashed down on the bar on opening night.
The answer to the curse is lost in folklore, there are three main guesses to why the curse occurs. The first guess is
that there is something mystical about the weird sisters incantations. The second guess is that the play has a history of
bad luck. The third guess is that the play's crowd-pleasing popularity made blaming a curse when a show was flopping.
There is a lot of fighting and physical action in Macbeth. It is inevitable that in the long run of the play someone is going
to get hurt. After a few of these stories get around, you get the "Curse of Macbeth."
In one production of Macbeth, nothing went wrong until the fight scene between Macbeth and Macduff. Both actors had
round "Celtic-style" shields strapped to their forearms of their left arms. The fight was very physical. The actor playing
Macbeth made a violent move with his left arm and the shield left his arm and flew like a Frisbee for twenty feet across
the stage. The actor playing Macduff ducked instinctively and the shield hit the ground about sixteen inches from the front
of the stage. Sitting in the front row, directly opposite the shield sat two nuns.
The superstition is not so much about doing the play as about naming it. You are not supposed to mention the title in a
theatre. The most interesting theory is that the play contains the devil in the form of the porter.
The most common remedy to get rid of the curse is that the offender must step outside, turn around three times, spit,
and say the foulest word he/she can think of, and wait for permission to re-enter the theatre.
THE HISTORY OF MACBETH
Macbeth was written by William Shakespeare between 1603 and 1607. One of the
greatest tragedies ever written, the play was based on the true story of Mac Bethad
mac Findlaich, King of the Scots in the 11th century.
It is known that Shakespeare wrote Macbeth partially as a celebration of King
James, who had just ascended the throne in 1603. King James had a great
fascination with witches, and the witches of Macbeth were likely inspired by his
interest. In addition, much of the plot of Macbeth is surmised to have been inspired
by the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when a group of English Catholics attempted to
assassinate King James of England, as well as King James VI of Scotland.
Shakespeare's most popular play, Macbeth is performed more often than any of his
other works. Its first public performance was in 1611 at the Globe Theatre in
London. The first actor to play the role was the esteemed Richard Burbage.
There have been 48 productions of Macbeth on Broadway over the years. In fact,
Alan Cumming is the first Scotsman to perform "The Scottish Play" on Broadway
in more than a century.
Legend has it that prior to the premiere of Macbeth, the boy playing Lady Macbeth
suddenly died, and Shakespeare himself stepped into the role. This is one of
several myths that are credited with the origin of the superstitions surrounding the
play. In 1849, a fight broke out between two famous Shakespearean actors, Edwin
Forrest and William Charles Macready, who were both to star in respective
productions of Macbeth in Manhattan. This fight escalated into the historic Astor
Place Riots, which left 25 people dead and 120 injured. There are hundreds of
reported incidents of "the curse of Macbeth" including several where a real dagger
has been mistaken for a prop dagger, resulting in the death of an actor.
The curse of Macbeth is well-known throughout the world. For centuries, thespians
have avoided saying the title of the play out loud in a theatre, preferring to use
"The Scottish Play."
It has become tradition, when the name "Macbeth" is spoken in a theatre, for the
guilty party to spin around three times, spit over their left shoulder, and yell an
obscenity. There are several ritualistic ways to guard against the curse of Macbeth,
but none have been definitively proven to ward off the curse.
THE STORY OF MACBETH
In medieval Scotland, Macbeth, a general in King Duncan's army, and his fellow
soldier, Banquo, are returning from a successful battle. On a barren heath, three
witches appear and greet Macbeth as "Thane of Glamis," "Thane of Cawdor" and
"King hereafter." They also prophesy that the future heirs of the throne will be
descended not from Macbeth, but from Banquo. The witches disappear, and a
messenger from the King arrives announcing that Macbeth has been named Thane
of Cawdor, thus fulfilling the first part of the prophecy. King Duncan declares that
he is nominating his son, Malcolm, as heir, and announces that he will spend the
night at the Macbeths' castle.
Alone, Lady Macbeth reads her husband's letter describing the witches' revelations.
She fears that Macbeth lacks the courage to commit murder and seize the crown.
Returning home, Macbeth expresses reservations about murdering the King, but
Lady Macbeth convinces him that the deed must be done. That night, Macbeth
stabs the sleeping Duncan, and two guards are framed for the crime.
The next morning, Macduff, a nobleman, discovers the body of the King. The
King's son, Malcolm, flees to England, and the lords of the kingdom vow to avenge
the King's murder. Macbeth is appointed King, but with the witches' prophecy in
mind, he arranges for the murders of Banquo and his son, Fleance. Although
Banquo is killed, the hired assassin does not succeed in killing Fleance.
At a royal banquet, Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost sitting in his chair, disrupting the
ceremonies despite Lady Macbeth's efforts to control the situation. He returns to
the witches, who share new visions with him: to beware Macduff, that he can never
be killed by "one of woman born" and to never fear until he sees Birnham Wood
begin to move. These twisted predictions lead Macbeth to think that he is safe from
harm, although the witches still show that Banquo's descendants will ascend the
throne.
When Macbeth learns that Macduff has fled the country to join with Malcolm, he
orders Macduff's wife and children to be put to death. Haunted by the sins she has
committed, Lady Macbeth begins sleepwalking. Malcolm and Macduff advance an
army to challenge Macbeth, cutting down the branches of Birnham Wood to
disguise their number. Macbeth is strengthening his own army, when news reaches
him that Lady Macbeth has died. Macbeth goes into battle. Face to face, Macduff
reveals that he was "from his mother's womb, untimely ripped," and defeats
Macbeth. Malcolm becomes King of Scotland.