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Fun fact: JRR Tolkien hated this play. He though that the "no man of woman born" twist should've been a woman killing Macbeth, inspiring Eowyn. He also thought the "forest" marching towards the castle should've been actual trees, inspiring the Ents.

There's also another version of the origin of the curse of this play: it was so popular that every time a playhouse started to "go under" financially, the powers that be began to put on showings of this play to turn around their fortune. Over time the play began to be associated with bad fortune.

You mistakenly called the moving forest- ferocious fauna. You should have used ferocious flora.

Here’s how the “No man of woman born” loophole was explained to me in school: “born” was understood to be a very active verb on the part of the mother-“bearing” a child refers to the work that a woman has to do to push the child out of her body. So if she didn’t do all that labor herself, she didn’t actually “bear” the kid.

The reasons "The Scottish Play" is considered cursed are pretty simple, actually... there are several scenes that take place at night (IE low-light stage-conditions) and that involve swordplay. Many of the special effects required to pull off the supernatural mumbo-jumbo can be dangerous if you're not careful. And the play is fairly inexpensive to produce, making it VERY popular with theater-owners in financial dire straits. Combined, you've got a perfect storm of reasons for the superstitious and cowardly to regard "The Scottish Play" as "cursed." I mean... Akira Kurosawa wound up transplanting the story to Sengoku Jidai Japan, and turned Toshiro Mifune into a human pincushion in the final scene to no ill effect to the actor... yeah, in the version told in "Demon-Spider Castle"("Throne Of Blood" in the West), the "forest rising up" against the protagonist took the form of... arrows. LOTS of arrows, hewn from branches of the trees surrounding the titular castle where the wicked daimyo who murdered his predecessor to gain the rank on the advice of his wife makes his defiant last stand. And instead of a trio of witches, the prophecy is delivered by a single sinister yokai.

Ah yes, "The Scottish Play". When I was in it, the determination was that the name could be said when it is in the script during rehearsals without incurring "the curse" but outside of literal scenes, it was determined that the principle character and their spouse would be referred to as "the dude" and "mrs. the dude" respectively... good times

I went to a play with some friends, there was a poster for Macbeth in the lobby which I pointed out because of the curse. One of my friends said "What? Macbeth?" That night, a lamp blew out, there were sound glitches, a prop was lost, and the following monday the friend wo had said "Macbeth" aloud was cut from the play he was in rehearsals for.

I love this play; reading Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett also offers a delightful humour perspective on it and so many Shakespeare/fairy tale tropes that i now can't read MacBeth without thinking of Pratchett, and Tolkien's Ents and Eowyn just being Tolkien refusing to accept Shakespeare not having enough imagination 🤣

Disney was genius for using this story along with midsummers night dream as story arches in Gargoyles.

Fun Fact: J.R.R. Tolkien hated the part of McDuff being born from a c-section as counting as "not of woman born", so he fixed it in his own way: when the Witch-king of Angmar, whom "no living man can hinder", is slain by Éowyn, a woman who disguised herself as a man to join the battle with her father, the King of Rohan.

“Hot potato, orchestra stalls, Puck to make amends!” [Pinch nose]

I. Literally. Just did a 5 part essay on Macbeth Like, literally just turned it in

The other proposed explanation for the curse that I've heard links back to something else you mentioned: its status as a crowd pleaser. It might have got its reputation because its a well-known, relatively easy to stage play that is safely in the public domain, which means it frequently gets staged by failing theater companies right before they go under. It's also got a bunch of stage fighting, which might get a careless actor in a failing company hurt through inattention to safety precautions.

I remember what initially made me research more about this and A Midsummer Night's Dream was the Gargoyles show. They captured the feel of the characters well, yet gave them a unique reinterpretation that build some of the show's most powerful moments.

You say, "the Scottish Play," the first thing the comes to mind is Blackadder Series 3. They make an entire running gag of this in one episode. Also an interesting fact I learned from a recent semester abroad - because Macduff placed the crown on Malcolm's head, it became a matter of constitutional law that in medieval Scotland, a member of Clan Macduff had to be the one who put the crown on the King of Scots; head during the coronation. Thus when Edward I took power, he seized all the Macduff. Fortunately, one was able to get away for the coronation of Robert the Bruce.

I read MacBeth in school. I LOVED the Gargoyles integration of MacBeth's story, that show made him an immortal antihero.

I do like that the person in the Coffee Shop/ playing Macbeth is dressed and has hair and facial hair like Macbeth from Disney's Gargoyles. :)

Why is Macbeth N?

(yelps) "Hot potato, off the shores, Puck will make amends." (tweak) Or however the middle bit goes.

Just started reading Macbeth for Gsce English, amazing timing!

Creating the Hero prophesized to defeat you, while trying to prevent the Hero prophesized to defeat you. Classic.

My granny thought Lady Macbeth didn’t manipulate Macbeth into anything, rather, she was tired of hearing him whine about it and said, “omg just do something about it!” Now everyone paints her as a villain

Back when I was in high school theatre I regularly yelled the name of the play to mock the superstitious. Nothing bad ever happened

It just occurred to me that Sir Terry Pratchet’s “Wyrd Sisters” is a parody of Macbeth.

My though from MacBeth: “No man woman born can kill me”. Sire, the Amazon army approaches!

I read this in High school! Great to hear about it again.

Disney's Gargoyles did a great job of combining the historical and fictional versions of Macbeth. That series is 90s af, but excellent.

"wait why would that make any--" _dies_ i love this series.

Ah, when I saw this title, I knew that - "Something wicked this way comes."

Macky B. and the stabby-stabby fun times!

Why let historical accuracy get in the way of a good Crusade? Save it for Ivanhoe, boyos. Lets keep this Gargoyles trifecta going... Othello ho!

Heh, I knew there'd be a Gargoyles reference in there. Now _that_ was a series that knew how to do antiheroes and antivillains...

Ah Macbeth, will always have a soft spot for this story because of the character and plotline in Gargoyles

Macbeth was one of Shakespeare's plays I remember studying back in high school, along with Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. It was one of my favorites!

Macbeth is one of my favourite plays and I’m so glad you talked about it, thank you

It's a good thing that I already liked the whole story/history abt Macbeth bc of his character in Disney's _Gargoyles_ bc the way we hyperfocused on it in middle school really pulled me out from wanting to read/watch the play outside of school.

I love this play so much. Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet, Animal Farm, 1984 & Oliver Twist are the best books I ever studied in school. Would definitely recommend

I love the gag of reusing the "why let a blank get in the way of a good blank?"

So if you want to experience the new Batman movie, you ... _read the script??_ Still beats me how most people think Shakespeare's plays should be _read._ They are *plays.* Go see a production in a local theatre. Or watch Roman Polanski's classic film adaptation. The only people who are supposed to _read_ plays are actors and directors. The audience are supposed to *_see_* a production acted out for them. Ask ol' William. He would have told you the same.

This McBeth is not the one I learned about it the Gargoyles cartoon.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA HOT POTATO OFF HIS DRAWERS, PLUCK TO MAKE AMENDS! *yanks nose*

I remember our class reading this last semester… It still gives me PTSD.

A lot of reasons Macbeth is considered cursed is purely a lot of incidents of bad luck. For example: -One actor accidentally got stabbed in a swordfight scene -A bad thunderstorm getting the play called off. -One company actually went through THREE actors. One got stabbed, the second got a bad cold, and the third was fired after arguing with the company

The fact that both of them are performing the ritual had me laughing! 🤣 2:30 P.s. Also the fact that the coffee shop is called "Double double brew and bubble' Nice touch there. 😏

Macbeth is such a timeless story that a lot of plays and even films have adapted the story through a more modern telling. Be it about chefs, modern dictatorships or crime families, this story has proven to be very versatile and fits well into any age.

The timing of this video is impeccable! Just started reading this book for my 11th grade English class!

I did drama in year 10, and when we were covering macbeth we got in trouble for saying it in the theatre, rightfully so because just the next day the lights broke in the theatre and strobed out.

Love that it's Gargoyles Macbeth listening the story. A+ Meta.

Now you've done it! "Hot potatoe on the shore, we must make amends!"

Can I be the first one to acknowledge the hard work they had done on the intro... I LIKE THE TRANSITION FROM THE SKY TO THE SHOP I LOVE IT

"Forest did not actually move. 0/10" - JRR Tolkien

Fun fact: The theater at my school has the same superstition to the point where I’d you say the name you have to go outside spin in a circle three times and then spit, I’m not making this up I’ve had to do that. The reson is very interesting tho, aperantly many times in theater if the production there doing looks like there going to flop the theater will perform Macbeth instead because so many theaters are able and have done it, so if your in a performance and you have to perform a play and you here someone rehearsing or talking about Macbeth it’s probably because your play is gonna be cut.

I don't know why but the forest moving bit just cracked me up. Great delivery.

What a coincidence that this episode covers MacBeth, because my brother was recently in a short stage show based on the story at our library. He played MacDuff.

Where’s Banquo? He’s pretty important. As I , totally important.

Still wish you'd do an episode on Hitchhiker's Guide or Discworld. I keep meeting avid readers who consider these books to be beneath their level of literacy. When possible, I blackmail/bribe/make a wager to force them to read one of the books and my victims _always_ fall in love with the writers and set forth to read every story they've written.

Extra Credits: *Makes a video on Macbeth* Me: *Has flashbacks of my boring English Class*

Aahhhhh! Hot potato, orchestra stalls, Puck will make amends!

Theatre nerd here, can confirm this play is cursed. However we love the show. A curse never stops us. Curse does only apply to inside theatres. I have worked on the show, and people ended up hurt broken toes sprained wrists ect. While injuries while working on a show aren't uncommon the number we had was. Also many friends who have performed elsewhere have experienced similar incidents. The bad luck isn't always injury sometimes its props missing or lights going out ect.

probably my favorite play by willy shakes nice to see it covered here with some nice bonus stuff on the side about the play well done you guys

i remember the Jimmy Neutron episode where they make Macbeth play take place in space. with how "curse" and murderous this play is, i surprise how they use Macbeth for a school play episode but that probably because then dont want to copy Hey Arnold Romeo and Juliet episode

This play was where I was first introduced to the Irish warriors/mercenaries the gallowglass and kerns.

Do a "so you haven't read" on The Giver, its really good.

these videos are great, the quality is insane and its explained so well

2:14 Gonna need some citations on that: from what I know it isn't that the play is cursed, but that it is considered unlucky to perform it. It is so well known that any travelling theatre group would know the entire thing off by heart. So, if a new or less famous play was doing poorly, the players could perform Macbeth to regain popularity. However, as this meant that your hard work in preparing the original performance was for nought, it's considered a bad omen if your company has to perform it.

AAAAAAHHH!!! Hot potato, off his drawers, pluck to make amends!!! Ouch...

I find it funny this came out the night the play was mentioned a total 9 times during my theatre rehearsal. Awesome video and hopefully the uncursing worked in my theater!

6:10 great throwback!

That 'When shall we three meet again'-scene still lives rent-free in my head and English isn’t even my native language.

I didn't read every Shakespeare play, but my favorite was Macbeth.:-)

Man this is giving me flash backs from school

Watch this play. But beware-- it is cursed. Ooh, that's bad. But the tickets are half price. That's good. The ticket is also cursed. That's bad. But you get your choice of popcorn. That's good! The popcorn contains potassium benzoate. That's bad. Can I go now?

This is a nice recap. Thank you so much for posting!

This is my GCSE so thx for the video

Ahhhh! Hot potato, orchestra stalls, Puck will make amends!

Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and caldron bubble.

We've just been to see The Northman at the cinema and halfway through my boyfriend whispered, Wait... This is just Macbeth!

3:54-4:35 I remember a wise man once said that “one often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.”

Is anyone gonna talk about how Macbeth looks like he does in gargoyles

These Shakespeare episodes are my favorites in the entire series.

I have read Macbeth & seen the 1971 movie version of it during high school. It was truly shocking back then but it's a great story.

Interesting suit there Mister toon

"some of you guys are alright. Don't come to Scottish Royal Court tomorrow"

"If fate would have me king then fate will crown me."

Macbeth, cuanta realidad sobre saber la obra de comedia, yo soy un fanático de las obras y los personajes de William Shakespeare, pero su posibilidad de la tragedia nos hace recordar.

Woah so you guys did do Macbeth. Great job and nice video!

I have read it, I just like hearing about it and also your channel What a duo

Ah yes, Macboi.

Also, for another great option, look up “Scotland, PA”. Christopher Walken plays MacDuff, and it’s basically “what if Macbeth was set in a drive through burger joint in rural 1970s Pennsylvania?”

It's literature reading this sounds like trying to get a copy of the script of Breaking Bad and enjoying it by reading instead of watching the show.

The best line in all of Shakespeare's writing comes from Macbeth. "What, you egg!" [He stabs him.]

Do a So you haven't read The Ramayana

I love that you covered Shakespeare! I love Macbeth!

Am I the only one who looks at the Macbeth in this animation and sees Macbeth from Gargoyles?

For anyone interested in Shakespeare, I have written out some of his more cheery work (love poems) ✒️🧾

I was just taking a look a Macbeth today epic

4:32-4:35 🎶They may offer you fortune and fame, love and money and instant acclaim, but whatever they offer you, don’t feed the plants!🎶

Hot potato, orchestra stalls, Puck will make amends OW!

Yeah, that’s Shakespeare’s idea if the whole “Good triumph over evil.” Because the madness of tyranny will eventually become their downfall. I think?