Shakespeare's plays have been performed over and over for 400 years in front of millions and millions of people. Unfortunately, audiences are rarely treated to a high quality Shakespearean play with a creative and modern twist and no, 1996's "Romeo + Juliet" doesn't count. "Macbeth," the latest production of The Actors' Shakespeare Project (ASP), casts one of the most famous tragedies of all time in a new and intriguing light.
"Unsex me here!" cries Lady Macbeth, played by Paula Plum, in the first act of the play. And ASP has done just that - or something similar, anyway.
"Macbeth" is performed entirely by women, giving its audience a different perspective on power and ambition, two of the story's central themes. This twist subtly distorts many references to the supposedly innate weakness of women and strength of men, including metaphors pertaining to nursing babies and even penis jokes. This variation adds another layer of depth to an already profound play.
It would be easy for a theater to use an all-female cast as a cheap gimmick to draw an audience, but luckily the show's acting is first-rate and its femininity isn't overdone. The audience doesn't spend the entire play thinking about the gender of the characters; rather, viewers are inexorably drawn into its tragic plot.
"Macbeth" opens to the three famous "weird sisters" (played by Denise Cormier, Bobbie Steinbach, and Jessica Kochu) planning a meeting with two Scottish generals: Macbeth, played by Marya Lowry, and Banquo, played by Jaqui Parker. The witches' prophesies ignite Macbeth's destructive ambition, and his quick ascent to the Scottish throne is mirrored by his descent into tragedy and madness.
Marya Lowry, with her wild eyes and white-blond hair, is captivating as Macbeth, making her character's emotions tangible, but not overwhelming. Paula Plum's Lady Macbeth is equally fascinating, and Jaqui Parker's strong stage presence turns Banquo into much more than a supporting character.
The witches are truly creepy, which is unusual for theatre. Backed by a soundtrack worthy of Halloween, they cavort about the stage with abandon. Sometimes they scream and sometimes they whisper, but the effect is always disconcerting.
Shakespearean language is often hard for modern audiences to understand, and "Macbeth" is no exception. Viewers who don't know the story can pick up most of the plot, and can certainly understand and appreciate the emotions the play expresses, but will probably miss the finer details. That said, the language is beautiful and moving, especially in the competent hands of Lowry, Plum, and Parker.
The show isn't a period piece; the costumes are a mixture of contemporary fashion and more antique styles. Lady Macbeth appears onstage smoking a cigarette while wearing a corset, and the two murderers (Denise Cormier and Jessica Kochu) wear black hoodies and beanies.
Violence is central to the play. Macbeth is traditionally known for its climactic swordfight, but in this version, none of the characters use weapons - too phallic, perhaps? Rather, they use red dye to smear surprisingly realistic bloody marks on their victims' necks. It might sound lame, but the emotion the actresses put behind the violence makes it seem graphic in a way that appeals to audiences desensitized by everyday Hollywood-style violence. Watching a blood-covered Macbeth writhe at Macduff's (Sarah Newhouse) feet and scream in apparent agony has a much more disconcerting effect than the bloodshed in "300" (2006).
ASP does some interesting things with the show's set and lighting. It's nearly theatre in the round; the audience sits bleacher-style on three sides of the stage. There are two massive columns in the middle of the acting space and a grandiose staircase on the side without seating. While the unusual stage allows for some creative movement, it often blocks parts of the audience from seeing the actors.
"Macbeth" has the same problem with lighting: the audience's view is often sacrificed for the sake of creativity. ASP's exploration of light is interesting, but at times the stage is too dark for the audience to appreciate the acting.
Despite its few technical downfalls, "Macbeth" is an imaginative and thoughtful exploration of sexuality, power and individual psychology. The play is more than just Shakespeare for Shakespeare's sake.
