Chapter 12 and Chapter 13 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 12: Barrowman describes some of his numerous phobias and superstitions regarding the theater. For example, it is bad luck to say "good luck" to an actor. Much better is "break a leg," which goes back to Shakespeare's time when actors took numerous bows to acknowledge the audience. If the performance was great, there would be more bows, and thus more of a chance to hurt your legs. Other superstitions involve: making sure to say a theater is "dark" instead of "closed"; not mentioning the play Macbeth; giving red roses to a performer after the show; and the fact that a poor dress rehearsal is in fact a good omen.

Also essential in the theater is giving everyone a charge of energy, because while it may be a company's 300th show, it is the audience's first show, and...