The Suburban Times

A community bulletin board for Western Pierce County.

  • Home
  • To Know
  • To Do
  • To Ponder
  • Obituaries
  • Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • More
    • Share your story
    • Submit an Event
    • Contact

Macbeth at Tacoma Little Theatre – Review

June 3, 2018 By Don Doman

In general the drama Macbeth takes place in Scotland centuries ago . . . in this version the setting is a dystopian reality where World War I never finished.

Three witches meet and share their thoughts and warnings. (Kaylie Hussey, Ethan Bujeaud, Jackie V.C.)

The house lights go down and the stage lights go up . . . and seconds later the stage is littered with writhing and twisting bodies amidst explosions of mustard gas.

Three witches meet and share their thoughts and warnings. What’s interesting about this production is blurred gender roles. We have a male witch and warriors are both male and female.

A prophecy discloses that Macbeth will become king, but the reality is that Lady Macbeth is the agent of change. (Dylan Twiner, Kathryn Philbrook)

The story:
Macbeth is a brave and loyal Thane to King Duncan. After hearing a prophecy that he will become king himself, Macbeth is overcome by ambition and greed. Bolstered by the prophecy and his wife’s encouragement, he kills King Duncan and takes the throne. Afterward, Macbeth’s guilt, fear, and paranoia lead him to commit even more murders to secure his power. His confidence in the prophecies eventually leads to his downfall and he is overthrown and killed by those he has wronged.

The play is well acted and well directed (pug Bujeaud), but if you are not up on your Shakespearean delivery, you may want to review some of the quotes below.

Once he is king, Macbeth sees Banquo not as a friend but as a threat. (Dylan Twiner, Jessica Weaver)

The play told in famous quotations:
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”. – (Act I, Scene I)

“When shall we three meet again in thunder, lightning, or in rain? When the hurlyburly ‘s done,
When the battle ‘s lost and won”. – (Act I, Scene I).

“Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under ‘t.” – (Act I, Scene V)

“Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness.” – (Act I, Scene V)

“I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself, and falls on the other.” – (Act I, Scene VII)

“Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand?” – (Act II, Scene I)

“There’s daggers in men’s smiles”. – (Act II, Scene III)

“What’s done is done”. – (Act III, Scene II)

“Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.” – (Act IV, Scene I)

“Out, damned spot! out, I say!” – (Act V, Scene I)

“All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.” – (Act V, Scene I)

“Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” – (Act V, Scene V)

“I bear a charmed life”. – (Act V, Scene VIII)

The production:
A prophecy discloses that Macbeth will become king, but the reality is that Lady Macbeth is the agent of change. Dylan Twiner as Macbeth and Kathryn Philbrook give commanding performances. The bloody hands were a nice touch. Costumes throughout were well-thought out and fit the tone . . . and action.

Seeking assurance King Macbeth searches for confidence and meaning. (Kaylie Hussey, Dylan Twiner, Ethan Bujeaud, Laurice Roberts, Jackie V.C.)

Power changes a person. They hold god-like powers for people in their own little world. Banquo’s hour’s are numbered. Once he is king, Macbeth sees Banquo not as a friend any more, but as a threat.

Worries about his future are unsettling to Macbeth. He must have answers. He is less a leader . . . less and man than he once was. Where he once left things to chance, now he wants to control his future. Promises and pledges . . . incantations and wishful thinking. Seeking assurance King Macbeth searches for confidence and meaning.

Only one man can stop Macbeth. Macduff holds the secret and delivers it to the hilt. (Rodman Bolek)

To Macbeth the prophecies seem to say he is unstoppable, but no . . . there is only one man who can stop him. Macduff holds the secret and delivers it to the hilt.

The fight scenes and misdirection and the action of ghosts was excellent. Dances are choreographed with movements and interaction. This is doubly important in fight scenes with people swinging swords and bashing of shields. If the movements of the fighters don’t look realistic you lose the audience. In the days of Shakespeare when people wore swords and daggers fight scenes had to look real. The only thing missing from this production was blood. In 1606, the year Macbeth was written competition between theaters was fierce. “The better the plays and the more dramatic the special effects resulted in bigger audiences and greater profits. The Elizabethan audience must have looked at the brightly decorated Globe Theatre in awe – but the special effects would have held a far greater impact. Bladders filled with the blood of animals such as sheep or bulls were concealed beneath the actor’s costumes which could be pierced by the points of daggers or swords used in stage fights, or just a thump to the chest could produce a gruesome death scene.” – www.william-shakespeare.info

Macbeth plays Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2:00pm – through June 17th. Get your tickets at www.tix4.centerstageticketing.com/sites/tacomalittletheatre/showdates.php?s_id=184

Photos courtesy of Dennis K Photography

Three witches meet and share their thoughts and warnings. (Kaylie Hussey, Ethan Bujeaud, Jackie V.C.)
Three witches meet and share their thoughts and warnings. (Kaylie Hussey, Ethan Bujeaud, Jackie V.C.)
A prophecy discloses that Macbeth will become king, but the reality is that Lady Macbeth is the agent of change. (Dylan Twiner, Kathryn Philbrook)
A prophecy discloses that Macbeth will become king, but the reality is that Lady Macbeth is the agent of change. (Dylan Twiner, Kathryn Philbrook)
Once he is king, Macbeth sees Banquo not as a friend but as a threat. (Dylan Twiner, Jessica Weaver)
Once he is king, Macbeth sees Banquo not as a friend but as a threat. (Dylan Twiner, Jessica Weaver)
Seeking assurance King Macbeth searches for confidence and meaning. (Kaylie Hussey, Dylan Twiner, Ethan Bujeaud, Laurice Roberts, Jackie V.C.)
Seeking assurance King Macbeth searches for confidence and meaning. (Kaylie Hussey, Dylan Twiner, Ethan Bujeaud, Laurice Roberts, Jackie V.C.)
Only one man can stop Macbeth. Macduff holds the secret and delivers it to the hilt. (Rodman Bolek)
Only one man can stop Macbeth. Macduff holds the secret and delivers it to the hilt. (Rodman Bolek)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Related

About Don Doman

Don Doman: Professional writer and author. Ideas and Training - Human Resources/business training products for modern business. PublicDoman - Video production, internet video, website construction and online marketing and social media. NW Adventures - Fun places to visit in the Pacific Northwest: Great Restaurants, Lodging, and People. The Doman Directories - Business directory listings for many categories in Tacoma, Pierce County, and Washington State. FindItWashington - Local search engine for Washington State.

Comments

  1. Mary M Raybell says

    June 4, 2018 at 9:28 am

    I went to the play Sunday, it was well done.

  2. Don Doman says

    June 4, 2018 at 6:00 pm

    Mary,
    Thank you for writing and commenting. I agree. Macbeth is a tough sell, but the play has been around for over four hundred years . . . and greed and ambition are still with us. The play was well done, I’ve seen several producttons by the Seattle Shakespeare Company, but not Macbeth . . . nor King Lear. As a senior at Clover Park our drama club saw King Lear performed at UW. I can still see the stage movements and that was over fifty years ago. Good theater stays with you.
    Please, keep reading and writing. I love to hear from readers.
    Don

Top Stories

  • Check out Kvlt’s new home in one of Tacoma’s best eating neighborhoods
    Check out Kvlt’s new home in one of Tacoma’s best eating neighborhoods
  • Change is going to come
    Change is going to come
  • Excellent meals for up to six people - No Charge
    Excellent meals for up to six people - No Charge
  • Tacoma Housing Now Blocks Intersection with Coffins to Protest Shelter Closure
    Tacoma Housing Now Blocks Intersection with Coffins to Protest Shelter Closure
  • Know the differences between natural aging and dementia
    Know the differences between natural aging and dementia

Become a better informed citizen.

Join over 30,000 readers each month and get real-local news and information direct to your inbox, Monday-Saturday.


Recent Comments

  • Willow on Change is going to come
  • Vernón Rodríguez on City of Puyallup 2021 Community Survey is Open
  • Mary Franks on Across the Fence: National Days
  • Lavinia Hart on The Landline Detective – Film Review
  • Roger Phillips on Change is going to come

Contact Us

The Suburban Times
P.O. Box 39099
Lakewood, WA 98496

Ben Sclair, Publisher
253-312-1804

Stephen Neufeld, Marketing Executive
stephen@thesubtimes.com

Copyright © 2021 The Suburban Times • Log in • Privacy Policy

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.