Shakespeare & Company critically-acclaimed actor Dan McCleary (last year's Coriolanus) will take the daggers in the title role of William Shakespeare's murderous tale of lustful power and vaulting ambition: Macbeth.
Award-winning Artistic Director Tina Packer, with Associate Director and Fight Choreographer Tony Simotes, brings one of Shakespeare's most popular and bloody tragedies to Founders' Theatre from June 12 through August 31. Press Opening is Wednesday, June 19 at 8 pm.
"What causes people to do violent acts?" posited Packer to her cast this past week in rehearsal. "Can there be any insights that may help look at these painful, terrible acts through performances of a Shakespeare play? There are, of course, many many answers to the first question - all of which we are doing our best to immerse ourselves in. And I hope by using Will Shakespeare's psychological and political knowledge there may be a way of perceiving these acts that give us some insight.
"In any case, this was our motive in choosing to do Macbeth. The shocks of the last year cannot be ignored. It is only possible to keep asking questions about it so that through wisdom we can see what to do. An artist's job is to ask the questions. A politician's job is to try and find the practical solutions. Macbeth is a dark play, but one made sublime by the poetry and the struggle. Macbeth is no ordinary killer. He has the soul of a poet and a love for life, and yet he ends up becoming one of the great tyrants, killing people, personally and politically. Shakespeare maps his decline in minute detail, including his private ambitions, which play a major part in his tyranny; and to quote Amos Oz:
"'Poets undertake to do what is beyond the power of the politicians, to delve into the depths of the other's soul, to voice his fears and traumas, to concern themselves not with questions of borders and arrangements but with questions of suspicions and anxieties.'"
Packer's Macbeth, a Bare Bard-style production that focuses on Shakespeare's text, is similar to Shakespeare's own touring productions, which took to the countryside when the plague shook London and closed down the theatres. Written around 1606, Macbeth is Shakespeare's most intensive study of evil at work in the individual and in the world at large. In their quest for power, Macbeth and his Queen let nothing stand in their way. Blind ambition, remorseless treachery, and supernatural soliciting combine to create one of the most harrowing and compelling stories in western civilization.
"This play is about the machinations of our minds -- what allows us to take a step away from our humanity," says Simotes. "It is possible for an honorable person to do a dishonorable thing, for a compassionate person to be capable of cruelty."
Shakespeare's Macbeth is the good Thane of Glamis who, before the start of the play, has just put down a rebellion against Scotland and its King Duncan. Macbeth and his close friend Banquo are met by a supernatural soliciting of witches that foretell Macbeth shall be promoted to Thane of Cawdor, and ultimately to king. They prophecy Banquo's children shall become kings. Macbeth's thoughts surprisingly and immediately question the murderous nature of such promotions, but his personal ambition and passionate love for his ambitious wife won't allow the bloody thought to dissipate.
Lady Macbeth, meanwhile, takes a bond of fate with the evil forces of nature, forces she feels her husband cannot call upon in order to "do the deed" if killing Duncan. Together, they murder Duncan in his sleep in their own house and begin trying to cover up their deed. This begins a bloody succession of murders, which includes those of Banquo, Lady Macduff, and Macduff's children. Both the Macbeths deal with their guilt and shame differently: Lady Macbeth going mad and dying, Macbeth struggling to gloss his fear with fury and bury his shame with death.
It isn't until Macduff receives news of his family's slaughter that he returns to combat Macbeth, who believes the witches' prophesy that he will not die until Birnam Wood marches toward his castle or until a man not born of woman confronts him. Macduff and Malcolm's (son of Duncan) armies hew down branches and march in camouflage toward Dunsinane, and Macduff, exposing himself as "untimely ripped" from his mother's womb, cows Macbeth into fighting as a mortal man and dying his mortal "dusty death." Malcolm then is crowned rightful king, but without evidence of how he will now rule Scotland or if Macbeth's lessons have been learned.
The eight-member cast includes Dan McCleary as Macbeth/Macduff's young child, Carolyn Roberts as Lady Macbeth/Murderer, Henry David Clarke as Malcolm/Murderer, Jennie Israel as Lady Macduff/Seyton, Jason Asprey as Macduff/Murderer, Michael Hammond as Duncan/Porter/Old Man, Johnny Lee Davenport as Banquo/Doctor, and Judith McSpadden as Fleance/Ross. Each actor plays multiple roles, including the fabled Weird Sisters, who in this production are more Macbeth's personal projections of modern-day power and fear than gown-clad spooks. The costumes are designed by Govanne Lohbauer, set design by Judy Gailen, properties by Carrie Capizzano, with sound designed by Mark Huang, and lighting by Karen Perlow.
The cast, examining a number of essays on violence, shame, and fear, especially including those of Dr. James Gilligan, is exploring the role of violence in society and how/why it has manifested itself through the ages. "Many things have shifted for us since the tragedies of September 11," says Simotes, "including the way we think about violence and how we bring it into the rehearsal. Leading a fight class used to be much lighter for me, and more about the craft itself. It's a deeper emotional connection both physically and psychologically because the work is now a reflection of what is happening in the world today. As artists we have a responsibility not only to understand the violence within us but how this power can corrupt and devastate a family, a society, a nation. This time, the process has been much more visceral for myself and the company. The violence is a very fertile place for us to be working right now. We take care of each other, but we must tell a story of blood."
"I'd like to think that if we can dive into the 'blood' deeply enough," says McCleary, "and study the unconscious of the fearful, shamed, love-lorn self, then we can begin to ask the brutal questions in a non-blameful way, in a way the actors and the audience can collectively hear, consider, and feel our grief together and then resolve to heal. It is a high calling, we take it seriously, and we're chomping at the bit to start this visceral debate with an audience."
At a Glance
Production: Macbeth in Founders' Theatre
Directors: Tina Packer and Tony Simotes
Cast: Jason Asprey, Henry David Clarke, Johnny Lee Davenport, Michael Hammond, Jennie Israel, Dan McCleary, Judith McSpadden, and Carolyn Roberts.
Costume Designer: Govane Lohbauer
Fight Choreography: Tony Simotes
Lighting Designer: Karen Perlow
Properties: Carrie Capizano
Scenic Designer: Judy Gailen
Sound Designer: Mark Huang
Dates: Previews: June 12-16 at 8:00 pm Press Opening: June 19 at 8:00 pm.
Tickets: $10.00-$45.00 in three reserved seating sections; Student, Senior, and Group Rates available.
Box Office: (413) 637-3353; www.shakespeare.org.
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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