Difference Between Macbeth And Other Theatre Quirks

M*cbeth, and Other Theatre Quirks If a person were to walk into a theater during a rehearsal having no outside knowledge about theater or its vocabulary, that individual would probably become very confused. Sure, all the words are English, but to the untrained ear it is a completely different language. Stage right, left wing, upstage, downstage, apron, “thank you, five”, are just a few of many terms that serve very significant purposes in the theater. Thespians will often pride themselves on the jargon that has developed in the world of theatre over hundreds of years due to its complexity and feeling of inclusiveness. The terms used in the theater are meant to be as efficient as possible as well as create an environment where those involved feel like they are a part of an exclusive society with a secret code of sorts. But the inclusivity of the language is not the only aspects that make it significant. Superstitions from the early ages of theatre are motifs that are extremely present throughout the language. From words that must never be uttered to greetings that are deemed as good luck before a performance, theatrical language is one that has proven to be efficient, superstitious, historic, and filled with tradition. First and …show more content…
Saying the word “Macbeth” in a theater is the equivalent of walking under a ladder or looking into a broken mirror. The bad omen originates when the actor playing Lady Macbeth in the original production in 1606 died forcing Shakespeare to replace him. An article by Laura Schumm testifies that “in another 17th-century production, held in Amsterdam, the actor playing King Duncan was allegedly killed in front of a live audience when a real dagger was used in place of the stage prop during the stabbing scene” (Schumm 1). The list of disasters while this play was in production is endless, thus the negative vibes behind simply vocalizing the