"Double, double, toil and trouble, Fire burn and cauldron bubble." What a neat way to set the dark scene in a dark play. "THAT play", "THE SCOTTISH PLAY" - a play that is considered so unlucky in theatrical circles that it's very name is forbidden. Should some unfortunate quote a line from that play, when not in rehearsal or performance, he has to go through an elaborate ritual to deaden the curse, and stop the misfortune, that thespians believed will fall. Disaster seems to follow that play, and there are reputably more accidents associated with Shakespeare's "Macbeth" than any other play.
Shakespeare wrote "Macbeth" for James 1, King of England. It was supposed to be a moral tale, outlining the fate metered out to those who decide to kill their King. Unfortunately, James, who Guy Fawkes had tried to blow to pieces in the failed Gunpowder Plot, found the storyline a little too close to home for comfort. He did not find Regicide an entertaining topic and made his displeasure felt. So "MacBeth" was unlucky from the start.
Nigel Tranter, the Scottish historical novelist, has more than one bone to pick with Shakespeare. This lying Sassenach had besmirched a noble king, he says, and he tries to set the record straight in his novel "Macbeth, the King". Lady Macbeth, according to Tranter, is one of the most maligned women in history. Obviously she was not known for sleepwalking and the wringing of blood soaked hands. This novel makes interesting reading for anyone who has studied MacBeth.
Why is Macbeth so unlucky? Why is it cursed? Well- according to Richard Huggett in his book "The Curse of Macbeth and other Theatrical Superstitions", Shakespeare included a real witches curse in his play. Yes folks - all that eye of newt, and hair of bat business is a witches code. The hooked nose warty ones don't really go around de-eyeing newts or doing a pluck-a-bat on Dracula's friends. These comical terms hide the identity of secret, sinister ingredients. If you want to know what they are, you'll have to become a black witch. I wonder if Shakespeare would have opted for accuracy, if he'd known what trouble the real curse was going to cause.
If you happen to find a copy of the "Curse of Macbeth and Other Theatrical Superstitions", check the index and see what the book says about Dame Nellie Melba. I guarantee you'll never think of her in quite the same way again. I hope he is wrong, that the superstition referred to is a malicious lie about a great Dame, but strange things happen in this world.
While thinking of witches, the following ditty sprang to mind. (Composed by me during a moment of madness.) I include it for your groans.
There's bad dogs breath and horses tails and lots of eye of newt
All stirred up in the stew, just for you
There's black bats wings and a nightingale sings as I stir it round the pot
And I've made it nice and hot, just for you.
You left me for another. T'was a rotten thing to do
But you'll be sorry Dearest when you've eaten up my stew.
There's oodles of poodles and wormlike noodles and Mummy bandages, too
All stirred up in the stew, just for you
There's criminals nails and puppy dogs tails and soot from the chimney flue
All stirred up in the stew, just for you
You left me broken hearted, I cried all through the night
But this concoction Darling, will make everything alright
There's toes of frog and bristles of hog and spider webs and more
And yukky things galore all about to even the score
With the rat who left me for another girl.
