Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2005 21:20:27 -0700
To: "puptcrit" <puptcrit-driftline.org-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Subject: [Puptcrit] Re: breaking a leg


I heard it was shorthand for "breaking the legend of the
one who went before you" -

dan

-----------------------------------
Dan Vie
Vancouver BC
Community Arts Workshop Society
www.communityartsworkshop.com


>In a message dated 9/12/2005 12:55:52 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
>steve-AT-axtell.com writes:
>
>I thought  "break a leg" meant to go out there and 
>give it your best - all your  effort. Try to break 
>your leg.  That was my intention with "Break a  
>string".   However, it's a futile wish since I 
>don't think  they use marionettes anyway.  So....break a  hand.
>
>Ax
>Break a leg" . It is a wish of good luck, but the words wish just the  
>opposite.  
>It was once common for people to believe in Sprites. Sprites are actually  
>spirits or ghosts that were believed to enjoy wreaking havoc and causing  
>trouble.   
>If the Sprites heard you ask for something, they were reputed to try to 
>make  
>the opposite happen. Telling someone to "break a leg" is an attempt to 
>outsmart  the Sprites and in fact make something good happen. Sort of a 
>medieval 
>reverse  psychology.  
>Of course it has became a popular wish of luck for theater  performers.
>  Regards
>  Mark
> 
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