Thanks for the amusing reply regarding my previous mascot question. It seems to me that a ‘mascot’ often chooses the theatre, rather than the other way round. Perhaps fate plays a hand in such matters? Whatever the case, I hope Rachel is doing well and guarding the theatre against….well, whatever is the natural enemy of skunks! One other superstition – as you’d pointed out in ‘Fools and Mortals’ – is keeping evil spirits at bay which all actors/actresses fear. In this sense I reckon the mascot acts as would a church gargoyle or a protective mirror (demons can’t stand their own reflection). Speaking of Shakespeare, there is also what is referred to as ‘The Scottish Play’. It’s real name is….no, don’t worry, I won’t do what Edmund Blackadder did!

Robert Douglas