Newsletter – June 26, 2026
By the time you read this on Friday, it’ll be opening night of the Short Playfest at Greater Lafayette Civic Theatre.
Hearts are beating a little faster. Palms are moist. Everyone has wished one another to “Break a leg.” And then it’s lights up. Show time!
Fun fact:
I was told for years that the good luck wish to break a leg was just a bit of reverse psychology. To say “Good Luck” outright would be bad luck. Then I heard that the expression was something said by understudies looking for their opportunity to take the stage.
Later, I heard something much more plausible.
The curtains across the top of a standard proscenium stage are called teasers, they hide the lighting instruments from the view of the audience. The curtains on the sides that hide actors waiting in the wings are called legs, because they fall from the teasers down to the floor when hung properly.
Back in the days of vaudeville—a live variety show—the performers only got money if their act was among those chosen. In order to go on stage, you had to break past the “barrier” of the legs. Break a leg and you get paid. No starving artist tonight. Now that’s good luck!
I still have yet to hear if that’s the definitive origin of the expression but I find it the most satisfying so I’m sticking with it.
My cast is very on top of the lines and the characters, and they’re deeply dedicated to the passion of the story. I told them I was blessed with a dream cast and they quickly returned the compliment. Not surprising for three people who were in tears on the first read-through.
I’ll be attending all three shows. I’d feel so out of it if I didn’t. It’s probably the actor in me who learned decades ago that “the show must go on.”
Go ahead, tell us to break a leg.
TTFN
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I had to share another kitten picture with you because the variety of colors is so interesting and rather beautiful.
On the lower left side you can see the edge of the window well cover I installed last month that the whole litter is now using as a slide. There’s also a second kitten down there, slightly out of focus but the tabby markings are a giveaway.
I have more photos and a video I plan to post on both BlueSky and Substack (margerumeric in both cases).
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Eric Margerum 