Macbeth

This past week, we saw Shakespeare’s Macbeth. It receives a simplistic makeover in Director Declan Donnellan’s version of this classic. This play tells the story of a man who never seems to be satisfied with what he has; after hearing a prophesy about his eventual position as King, he resolves to do anything it takes to get him to that seat of power. He doesn’t accomplish this all on his own, however; Lady Macbeth does her part to ensure their status as the elite.

Johan Persson

The design and how it was executed was unlike anything I’ve seen before. It resembled more of a concert than anything else. The only set pieces involved were on either side of the stage, resembling an empty warehouse. With thick fog covering the stage, silhouettes emerged from the mist, which was an amazing lighting technique. The clever use of the dramatic lighting created a three dimensional “set” of sorts; the characters interacted within the boundaries of the lighted stage. The result filled the stage with interest, creating an ever-changing environment. I loved the design.

Johan Persson

In terms of sound, costume, and general interpretation, I thought that Donnellan’s presentation was unique. The styling of music with dance and choreography created interest; the actors weren’t just delivering their lines – they were using body language to portray what Shakespeare might have intended. The plain black uniforms shifted our attention off the actors and onto the lines they were delivering. I’d be interested in reading the design statements and seeing works in progress for this piece because it’ll give me an inside into Donnellan’s intensions.
All in all, Donnellan’s version of Macbeth was unique, but it seems that the actors were not able to live up to the design that their director may have envisioned. While the design was extremely well executed, a better casting call should have been taken to provide the audience with the whole package.