By Marilyn Jozwik
After frolicking through Shakespeare’s light-hearted “Much Ado About Nothing” last season, Summit Players is wading into one of The Bard’s bloodiest plays, “Macbeth,” for their 2023 production.
While I’ve seen shows that dramatize the bloodshed – including one that offered rain ponchos for audience members in the first rows who might be sprayed with red liquid –-Summit Players sanitizes the violence, using strips of red material strategically placed at mortal wound sites. Considering there were a number of children among the large audience at Havenwoods State Park in Milwaukee, it was a good choice.
And by the way, the kids – as well as the adults – were totally engrossed in the show with the nonstop action and energetic performances of the players, sound effects, audience engagement and a wooded, warm, windy summer night setting.
While Summit Players normally produces Shakespeare’s comedies, the decision was made to do this well-known tragedy with its witches, murders and ominous tone – a perfect scary story in the woods!
“Macbeth” is a tale of power and greed. Macbeth, a Scottish general, will stop at nothing to attain the Scottish throne. He believes the prophecy of three witches that he is to be king and, along with the encouragement of his wife, Lady Macbeth, starts his trail of mayhem by killing King Duncan of Scotland. As the murders continue, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth find themselves descending into paranoia and madness which leads to their demise.
Maureen Kilmurry again gets incredible energy and engagement from this troupe of six which literally dons many hats – and other costume pieces – to create dozens of characters.
Dylan Thomas and Vivian Romano play the scheming and murderous Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in this understudy performance for Cole Conrad and Maya Danks. The duo certainly do justice to the iconic theatrical pairing, delivering their lines with appropriate conviction and strength.
The cast also includes Kaylene Howard (Malcolm, Lady Macduff, Witch, Fleance), George Lorimer (Macduff, Duncan, Siward, Murderer), Caroline Norton (Ross, Witch, Murderer, Donalbain, Gentlewoman, Young Siward) and Matthew Torkilsen (Banquo, Porter, Doctor, Bloody Captain, Old Man, Macduff's Son, Apparitions).
The show is full of Shakespeare’s heady metaphors that this cast makes sure to clearly articulate so that the last row of audience members on their portable chairs can enjoy the beauty of the language, especially full of sinister images.
“There’s daggers in men’s smiles,” says Donalbain (Norton) highlighting the idea that appearances can be deceiving and people should not be swayed by a one’s pleasing demeanor. When Macbeth says “Full of scorpions is my mind,” he indicates he can’t rest easy until his enemies are vanquished.
And, of course, you’ll want to stay alert for the famous lines like Lady Macbeth’s “Out damned spot,” said while she tries to clean the imaginary blood from her hands as the gravity of her evil deeds takes hold. And the “Out, out brief candle” speech, uttered by Macbeth when he learns of his wife’s death.
The three witches (Norton, Howard, Romano) are an especially animated bunch, conjuring up all sorts of problems for Macbeth and others. The trio utter the famous “double, double toil and trouble” poem with it’s sing-songy list of ingredients in the imaginary cauldron that is both ominous and humorous.
Perhaps the most dramatic moment of the performance belonged to Lorimer’s Macduff upon hearing of the slaughter of his wife and children by Macbeth’s cohorts. His anguish is doubled when he feels he may be somewhat responsible. Lorimer’s voice rings with such sorrow and anguish that it echoes in the nearby woods.
Carrie Johns as production manager provides sound effects such as a trumpet sounding, thunder and drums, and cues the audience for bird and wind sounds.
If you go:
Who: Summit Players
What: “Macbeth”
When: Through Aug. 19
Where: Various state parks in southeast Wisconsin
Info: www.summitplayerstheatre.com