Saturday, June 25, 2016

Bad Luck To Say Good Luck

Our first day of rehearsals for "Brushes" went so well, the SJG is knocking on wood, saying kina hora poo poo poo and dancing a Broadway-style hora, all at the same time. So much activity so early the morning. I'm already exhausted. Oh, and here's a question. Why does everyone keep telling me to break a leg? Ouch. I'd rather not, if it's all that same. I know, I know. There are many theories on the break a leg thing. My guess: it started with a Yiddish saying and wound up in the German theater and ever since, it's been bad luck to say good luck. But if it's okay by you, instead of breaking a leg, I'll just kick myself. In all the excitement, I forgot to take a single photo of our first day of rehearsals. Which means I have no visible proof that any of this is actually happening. I could be making the whole thing up just to compensate for some deep-seated issue I can't quite identify till my next shrink comes along. So you'll just have to trust me. I would never lie to you, intentionally. That would be wrong.

4 comments:

  1. The best origin story of that expression I've ever heard is that promoters booked extra acts in vaudeville in case somebody flaked or got sick or just couldn't go on. But, those extra acts, standing by in the wings, only got paid if they actually went onstage. Standing at the ready, behind those masking curtains at the side of the proscenium (known as "legs" to this day) ambitious acts longed for the opportunity to be sent onstage. If they crossed that rubicon, if they "broke" past a leg-- KA-CHING! What's not to like?

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  2. Love that, Larry, thank you! For me, everything starts in Yiddish.

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  3. As your loyal audience, I'll be there to document all of these Herculean labors. We just got here. So excited!!

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    1. Sweet Alice! So freakin' great to see you and your people at the show. Meant the world to us. Big kisses and thanks. xo

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