Page 31 - Let's Make Waves - September 2018

filled with sailors on shore leave, as, since they were well-versed perstition is akin to "2nd Night" or "Sophomore Slump."
in maneuvering a ship's rigging, they literally “knew the ropes.” There will always be an adrenaline-induced 'high' and energy for
Just like on a ship at the time, commands and signals were given the performers on opening night that can't be duplicated, but
with distinct whistles. Therefore, if an actor or someone else '2nd Night' must be prevented at all costs – doing so is often
were to nonchalantly whistle, it could cause confusion or serious times the result of a verbal cattle-prodding to the cast from the
injury by a sand bag to the face and ruin the show. show's director.
NO PEACOCK FEATHERS -
DID SOMEONE SAY EVER!
MACBETH' ?!?!?!?!? Peacock Feathers should never be
Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” is one of the brought on stage, either as a costume
most popular plays ever written. It’s also element, prop or part of a set as chaos
believed to be the most cursed — so will ensue. Many veteran thespians tell
much so that just saying the name of the stories of sets collapsing, curtains catch-
play in a theatre is considered very bad ing alight and other disastrous events during performances with
ing alight and other disastrous events during performances with
luck. Most of us will only refer to it as “The Scottish Play,” “The
luck. Most of us will only refer to it as “The Scottish Play,” “The peacock feathers. The feather is said to represent a malevolent
peacock feathers. The feather is said to represent a malevolent
Bard’s Play” or even “Mac B.” Once again [surprise!], there are ‘evil eye’, that bestows a curse on the show. The association be-
Bard’s Play” or even “Mac B.” Once again [surprise!], there are
‘evil eye’, that bestows a curse on the show. The association be-
several possible origins for this superstition. According to one, tween peacock feathers and the evil eye is best illustrated by the
several possible origins for this superstition. According to one,
tween peacock feathers and the evil eye is best illustrated by the
Shakespeare himself got the words from a coven of real witches, Greek myth of Argus, the monster whose body was covered
Shakespeare himself got the words from a coven of real witches,
Greek myth of Argus, the monster whose body was covered
who, after seeing the play weren’t impressed by their portrayal. with a hundred eyes, these eyes were transferred to the tail of the
who, after seeing the play weren’t impressed by their portrayal.
with a hundred eyes, these eyes were transferred to the tail of the
As retaliation, they cursed the play for all eternity. This could Peacock. Personal note - I once blatantly defied this edict by
As retaliation, they cursed the play for all eternity. This could
Peacock. Personal note
seem silly and/or highly doubtful in the modern world, but it’s
seem silly and/or highly doubtful in the modern world, but it’s writing a musical called "Razzmatazz and All That Jazz" and set
hard to deny that “Macbeth” has seen more than its fair share of it in a 1920's Chicago speak-easy called The Blue Peacock. It
unfortunate incidents. It’s believed the first occurrence of the was a smash success!
“curse” actually happened during the first production of the
play. It’s said that the young man playing Lady Macbeth (actors
in Shakespeare’s time were, by law, all men) tragically died on
opening night and Shakespeare himself had to step in. There ISLAND ETC BAY AREA HAR- Sept 14 - Sept 22, 2018
have been numerous incidents of actors getting accidentally WAIT UNTIL DARK BOUR PLAYHOUSE
stabbed during fight scenes. In 1934, four actors had to step into by Frederick Knott DOUBLEWIDE, IN THE WINGS
the role of Macbeth due to illness or accidents in one week. It Sept 14 - Oct 6, 2018 TEXAS CLEAR CREEK
by Jessie Jones, Nicholas COMMUNITY THE-

was also the show in which dueling productions caused the great COM THEATRE Hope and Jamie ATRE
Astor Place Riot in 1849, leaving at least 25 dead and hundreds DRIVING MISS DAI- Wooten SHERLOCK
SY
Sept 7 - Sept 23, 2018
HOLEMS AND THE
injured. The superstition is even parodied in an episode of The by Alfred Uhry ICE PALACE MUR-
Simpsons. While visiting London, the Simpson family comes Sept 6 – Sept 23, 2018 NEW LISTING! DERS

PURPLE BOX PLAY- by Jeffrey Hatcher
across Sir Ian McKellen outside a theater playing “Macbeth.” CLEAR CREEK ERS Oct 19 - Nov 4, 2018
Every time “Macbeth” is said, something horrible happens to COMMUNITY THE- [Community Theatre
McKellen [Google this on YouTube - it is hilarious!]. ATRE in Friendswood - more BAY AREA HAR-
BOUR PLAYHOUSE
SHOUT! THE MOD on their 2018-19 Sea-
MUSICAL son to follow] THE HOUND OF
Created by Phillip Shirley Jackson's THE THE BASKERVILLS
BAD DRESS = GOOD OPENING George & David Low- HAUNTING OF by Sir Arthur Conan
HILL HOUSE
Doyle
enstein
and "2nd NIGHT" Sept 7 - 23, 2018 by F. Andrew Leslie Oct 12 - Nov 4, 2018
This dress does not mean the particular
outfit that a leading lady is wearing, but INTERMISSION
the dress rehearsal, or the part of the re- ACT THREE - Spotlight on COM Theatre - Their mis-
hearsal process when costumes are added. sion, a review and a One-on-One with Director H. Russ
It is believed that a bad final dress rehears- Brown
al is sign for a good opening performance. Maybe it’s the nerves
al is sign for a good opening performance. Maybe it’s the nerves PAUL HAGER is a native Houstonian who has been in-
of the cast and crew before the opening or maybe it’s a curse of
of the cast and crew before the opening or maybe it’s a curse of volved in local and regional theatre for over forty years as an
every show, but everyone takes the lessons from this final re-
every show, but everyone takes the lessons from this final re- actor, director, producer and playwright. Now an Islander by
hearsal and works to fix them for their opening night. This su-
hearsal and works to fix them for their opening night. This su- Choice, he has most recently appeared in several productions
at COM Theatre and Island ETC.
Waves Magazine | September 2018 Issue | 31