The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 9.0192  Thursday, 5 March 1998.

[1]     From:   John A Mills <
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        Date:   Wednesday, 4 Mar 1998 08:07:51 -0700 (MST)
        Subj:   Macbeth curse

[2]     From:   Larry Weiss <
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        Date:   Wednesday, 04 Mar 1998 11:15:22 -0500
        Subj:   "Hamlet Studies"


[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:           John A Mills <
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Date:           Wednesday, 4 Mar 1998 08:07:51 -0700 (MST)
Subject:        Macbeth curse

The explanation I picked up somewhere along the line is that it grew out
of the experience of 19th C. British touring companies, to wit: When
managers of 2nd and third-rate companies, operating on a shoestring, saw
that they were about to go under, they were in the habit of scheduling
Macbeth-always a good draw-with a view to absconding with the receipts,
leaving the company unpaid, stranded, and subject to local prosecution
for unpaid bills.  Hence, Macbeth meant "bad luck" and then some.

And then there is this: 7 or 8 years ago the Presenter on an A&E
production of the play asserted that it all went back to opening night
at the Globe, when, said he, Burbage fell ill and Shakespeare had to
play the part himself.

[2]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Larry Weiss <
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Date:           Wednesday, 04 Mar 1998 11:15:22 -0500
Subject:        "Hamlet Studies"

Many thanks to everyone who kindly took time to respond to my inquiry
about this journal.  Larry Weiss