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Orpheum Theatre of Memphis Tennessee
Are ghosts superstitious?
Well you would wonder for Mary the Ghost of the Orpheum theatre in Memphis. How else can you explain why she would only sit in seat C-5 Box 5?
There is in the theatre a traditional wish for an actor to “break a leg”. One explanation for this odd expression suggests that in Shakespeare's time the audience would show their pleasure at a good performance by throwing money onto the stage. The actors would need to bend down to collect it. Hence bend or “break a leg".
So break a leg really did wish an actor well, and given the nature of superstition, like "touch wood", reverse psychology is always close at hand.
So what about Mary the ghost of the Orpheum?
She has been seen by staff and performers in that particular seat for over 50 years. Perhaps it is no accident. Maybe she enjoyed the performances so much she just couldn't bring herself to sit anywhere else. Just in case?
Are we back to the reverse psychology scenario again? Maybe she believes that it has also been the reason for the extraordinary success of the theatre for many years. Well this is not for me to say, she seems to enjoy the place and its success, and maybe the idea of trying another seat, well like I say maybe she is superstitious.
By the way if you take a virtual tour of the theatre you really would wonder why Mary wouldn't have tried a seat in the stalls at least once, this is one beautiful theatre. Take a look>
Better still book a seat on line - some of the choices on the play list for 2011 include Les Miserables, Monty Pythons's Spamalot, Beauty and the Beast and a tribute to Elvis.
Head to the Orpheum in Memphis this summer.
Why not?
It is a line up Mary would enjoy, and you never know you may be in for a surprise!
JFC - March 2011
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