Folklore of Enid's Performing Past:

"Spirited" Stories Surrounding the Places and People of Enid's Oldest Theatres.

A Project for Mythology & Folklore, by Brady Henderson

 Stories of the Gaslight Theatre: Enid's Version of the Scottish Play

There have long been many well-known legends about the play Macbeth in the acting world. Legend has it that anyone who says the name “Macbeth” backstage or shows indignity to the title character offstage will be visited by injury or death due to an “accident.” Many, however, dismiss the legends as nothing more than silly stories or superstition. There was one such man in Enid many years ago, an aspiring young actor playing the title role in a production by the Gaslight Theatre. All through the rehearsal process, he made fun of the myths about Macbeth, never observing the careful predilection of some of the older actors to never speak the name backstage. Instead he laughed about it and jokingly dared the spirit of Macbeth to come and make a stage light fall on his head, but the lights stayed put. 

 

There have long been many well-known legends about the play Macbeth in the acting world. Legend has it that anyone who says the name “Macbeth” backstage or shows indignity to the title character offstage will be visited by injury or death due to an “accident.” Many, however, dismiss the legends as nothing more than silly stories or superstition. There was one such man in Enid many years ago, an aspiring young actor playing the title role in a production by the Gaslight Theatre. All through the rehearsal process, he made fun of the myths about Macbeth, never observing the careful predilection of some of the older actors to never speak the name backstage. Instead he laughed about it and jokingly dared the spirit of Macbeth to come and make a stage light fall on his head, but the lights stayed put.

Macbeth's fight scene.

Finally, it was performance time. The show ran beautifully the first two nights, everything going better than expected, and the audience more than satisfied. On the third and last night, the show went off without a hitch, and soon they were in the final act. As the actor went off stage for the last time before the final scene where Macduff “kills” him, he stopped behind the second curtain to await his entrance. Just behind him, a young actor who had played an extra in the fight scenes was playing with a dagger, joking around to impress a couple of Lady Macbeth’s ladies in waiting. As he was flinging the dagger around humorously imitating something between the Karate Kid and Robin Hood, he began to spin around. Just as he did this however, Macbeth realized his throat was suddenly very dry and he began to turn around to ask for some water. As they both each turned so quickly, there was no time to avoid the collision. Just as they each caught each other in the corner of their eyes, the young man’s dagger drilled itself into the other’s ribcage. He let out a gasp of air, but was then silent. The others backstage were tacit too, all too shocked to make a noise. The actor, perhaps in shock, perhaps not knowing what else to do, covered the wound and entered for the final scene. All the audience and the director agreed, this was the best performance of the finale that they had ever seen! As the play ended everyone roared with applause, until Macbeth did not get up for the curtain call.

Gaslight has never performed the Scottish Play in that theatre since, and likely never will. The old hands of the theatre say that the actor’s ghost continues to haunt the place today, still bleeding from his wound. But that’s another story.

[Based on a story told by Catherine Johnston, 40 years of age, of Enid, Oklahoma, and Jim Hammer, 25 years of age, formerly of Enid, Oklahoma, to Brady Henderson in June 1997.]