Why is it taboo to say 'Macbeth' in a theatre while not on stage?

Question

It's supposed to be bad luck, I know, but how did that superstition start? What exactly is supposed to happen when you say his name?

Answer 1

There are a lot of stories of tradegies that have occurred to people who have named the Scottish Play while in a theatre. Many people believe that some of the witch's curses are true curses and naming the play evokes them.

Some people say that when a theatre company is desparate for an audience they do Macbeth and so it is often the last play they do before closing.

Answer 2

This is an old and still-revered theatrical tale. Presumably, The Scottish Play was not one of Shakespeare's favorites and his spirit loathes the sound of its name.

I personally have seen actors deliberately flaunt the superstition, only to be injured or most spectacularly-barely missed. One event leaps to mind from nearly 20 years ago when a technician refused to believe the superstition and walked around backstage repeating the name ad nauseum. An errant and forgotten sandbag worked its way loose from the scenic storage loft and crashed all 50 lbs. down a scant inch from the techie's deathly pallor. Presumably, the only time that you are safe to mention the name is if you are actually doing the production, and some actors categorically refuse to even do that.

Answer 3

Personally, I think the fact that "Macbeth" has gotten a bad rap, as far as all this CURSE nonsense is concerned. Basically, it's a play that takes place largely in the DARK, and there is a lot of physical violence. In other words, accidents are going to happen.

But, you never hear about people talking about the "Hello, Dolly" curse, even though I'd be willing to bet that dozens of chorus dancers have sprained their ankles on that one over the years...

Of course, in the first production of "Macbeth" that I was in, a witch's costume caught on fire, but...that's another story.

When I directed the play a few years ago, I made it VERY clear to the cast that the first person who wasted our rehearsal time with "curse" crap would quickly find themselves replaced. MY curse seemed to work fine; the show went off without incident.

Answer 4

Let's face it, things are probably gonna go wrong either way in a production, so saying Macbeth really does nothing. Although the last production i was in resulted in the injury of two actors when the stairs the were climbing collapsed on them, and yeah we had said Macbeth before.

Answer 5

My favorite one is that the witches lines "boil, toil and trouble" or however it goes is actually a witches chant. And so, therefore it's cursed.
It's an ooooold tradition and while I'm not superstitious (gee, does EVERY theater have a resident ghost?) I do like to honor the traditions of the theater.

Answer 6

Several bad events have occurred during the staging of that play. Actors have died and all sorts of things have happened. For that reason, the name of the play is forbidden to be said.

Answer 7

Ever hear of 'wives tales' or superstitions? Americans seem to love dabbling in these pastimes. I don't know why,,they just do. Maybe it's something in our food,,,makes us fools.

Answer 8

http://www.angelfire.com/fl3/Defymcbeth/Super2.html