Jonathan Bailey's Theater Superstition Mishap: The Curse of Macbeth
Jonathan Bailey shared a childhood memory of a theater superstition mishap that he believed led to a show's failure. During an episode of "Actors on Actors," Bailey recounted his experience in the 1996 show "Les Enfants du Paradis" directed by Simon Callow. Before the show, Bailey uttered the forbidden word "Macbeth," a superstition that is said to bring bad luck to a production.
The superstition surrounding the word "Macbeth" in theaters is well-known among actors, with dire consequences believed to follow if it is spoken. Bailey humorously reflected on how his chaperone blamed him for the show's poor reception, jokingly suggesting he had caused the downfall of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Despite the superstition, Bailey's career has not been negatively impacted by the incident. He has received widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Fiyero in "Wicked" and its sequel "Wicked: For Good." However, Bailey may want to be cautious with his words in the future, as superstitions can have a way of lingering in the theater world. Who knows what unseen forces might be listening in on his conversations.