The Mary Sue: Theatre people are known for a great many things, one being their superstitions. We love to be very cautious when it comes to the arts. You don’t say the name of the Scottish Play (Macbeth) when standing in a theater, the “ghost light” is to keep spirits out, and you have traditions like the legacy robe. There are lots of things we do just because. It’s the way of the theatre world.
3 comments:
I have to agree with the article’s author, Rachel Leishman. Those dolls, having been housed in the theater that held Phantom of the Opera for 35 years, are cursed. Or will be. You can’t tell me some angry soul didn’t end up possessing one of those dolls over the years. Nevertheless, this article discusses something that I believe brings the theater world closer together - superstitions. There’s something about sharing a silly superstition like “break a leg,” or not saying Macbeth in a theater, that creates a sense of community and belonging. Whether or not you actually believe the superstitions, it’s difficult to argue that these small shared sentiments don’t bring theater people closer together (although some could argue that it can cause a clique rather than a strong community, but that’s a separate conversation.) I also love the flea market that Broadway does, raising money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. It’s a great way to sell extra merchandise, reduce waste by selling the merch instead of tossing it, and to raise funds and awareness for a good cause.
This article made me giggle but the more I think about it, the creepier it gets. This year is the first year I’ve heard about the Broadway Flea market. I would love to buy so many show-related items – whether official merch or just things they used for the show – if I was there. Selling a doll that has been in a theatre for 35 years is weird enough; let alone a theatre that hosted “The Phantom of the Opera”, a show with a plot that centres around mystery so much. It’s even crazier that the doll they found is a Raggedy Ann doll. All these combined are creepy, eerie, and oddly coincidental. I’m not exactly a superstitious person, but there are just so many things that happen in this world that cannot be explained with science. Although we don’t have to believe in one or the other, I think it’s always good to have respect for anything that humans cannot explain.
It is my first time knowing The Broadway Flea Market is a thing, and I really look forward to go explore when I have the time! I love flea markets and theatre, and this combination combine two of my favorite things! I do agree, we theatre people have sooooo many superstitions, and we stand by them strongly. If I saw some people buy the Annabelle dolls, I would also freak out, especially after I experienced something going wrong after someone said Macbeth in the theater. I also know each director has their own traditions as well, I remember one director had us scream and run around the stage and house before opening to scare away the ghosts of the theater. Although we usually don’t get to take props and costumes home from shows, I definitely stolen my fair share(no one tell my director please), and I absolutely love these pieces, as they remind me of the fun times during the show and performances.
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