Macbeth

Superstitions are everywhere! Many believe it is bad luck to walk under a ladder or let a black cat cross your path; some believe in seven years bad luck for breaking a mirror. There are some actors who believe the play Macbeth is cursed, and when working on the production, won't ever say the name "Macbeth" in the theater; they instead call it "The Scottish Play." They believe the name is cursed! If they forget and utter the word "Macbeth" in the theater, they'll perform a ritual to cancel out the curse. They may have to spin in a circle three times, run outside, and say "Macbeth" three times before returning to the theater. How do you think this Macbeth superstition might have first started? If you were going to create your own ritual to cancel out an old superstition, what would it be? Demonstrate! (And don't worry if you hear someone say "Macbeth" in Chicago Shakespeare Theater—it's only superstition!)

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