SHAKSPER 2001: Re: "The Scottish Play"

From: Hardy M. Cook (editor@ws.bowiestate.edu)
Date: 10/17/01 

The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 12.2376  Wednesday, 17 October 2001

From:           Don Bloom <dbloo@asms.net>
Date:           Tuesday, 16 Oct 2001 20:41:18 -0500
Subject: 12.2362 Re: "The Scottish Play"
Comment:        Re: SHK 12.2362 Re: "The Scottish Play"

 Martin Steward  writes,

>On an edition of The Weakest Link featuring contestants who were actors
>in the soap opera Eastenders, one of the questions required the answer,
>"Macbeth". The contestant hesitated before offering, "The Scottish
>Play".  Ann Robinson was merciless in her refusal to accept this answer.
>Therefore, this should stand as an example of an actor's refusal to say
>"Macbeth" resulting in bad luck.

For reasons I find difficult to explain, this anecdote fascinates me.
Stateser that I am, I don't know the show or Ms. Robinson, but the
implication of "mericiless" is that she knew of the superstition and
used her position of power in order to try and compel an actor who
believed in it to violate it. This sounds very arbitrary and tyrannical
(or at least quite mean), not qualities you ordinarily find in quiz show
hosts. At least, you don't usually see them displayed over the air.

Was it as strange and ominous as it sounds? Was it ominous but covered
up with jocularity? Or completely innocent and I'm allowing my
imagination to run away with me?

Just curious,
don

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