Thu 17 Nov 2005
Theater review: Macbeth (IU)
Posted by David under reviews
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Quick Review: It’s all about the witches, and them were some good witches
The [IU Dept. of theater and Drama](http://www.indiana.edu/~thtr/)’s production of *Macbeth* features fog. The fog was rolling when I entered the Ruth N. Halls Theater and took my seat. It was featured prominently in the first scene. It was omnipresent. I’m probably a sucker for fog machines, but with the creepy factor *and* the Scotland factor, it just really worked for me.
And then, there’s the witches. The first scene opened with some sort of net being lowered like a curtain, and in the net were all kinds of bones and probably other things that one might associate with death and witchcraft. The witches walk in behind the bone strewn net, seemingly glowing, with wild looks in their eyes and hair teased to the extreme. I think my hair stood on end before they even spoke.
So, I was probably won over right there… at the very least, nothing about the rest of the production ruined the experience for me. When I saw *Romeo and Juliet* at IU a few years ago, I was bothered… Particularly memorably bothersome was the inexplicable mix of modern and period costuming. I felt like a statement was being made, and I didn’t get it, but felt like if I did, I would sneer at it.
Nothing like that in *Macbeth*. I thought the set was cool (the backdrop doubled as a waterfall, with real water!) the costumes were cool (Macbeth’s armor was particularly effective, I thought), and the main actors did their work well… Macbeth seemed bigger than life, as must be required of this infamous role. Lady Macbeth was very believably conniving (*that’s* how that’s spelled?) before the tragic deed, and I believe the entire audience got the chills as she sleepwalked across the stage to try to “wash” her hands afterwards. There were a few weaknesses… it’s sad that even with a special guest director of fight scenes that the fight scenes still looked every bit as staged as they were. And, yeah, there were probably other things I’m not remembering…
… because, really, it’s all about the wiches. There must be countless tales of people who go against their values to satisfy a lust for power. But few, if any, others have witches who give sneaky predictions where one can’t tell if they are foreseeing the future or creating it. If there are others, everyone must think of them as derivative, because *Macbeth* is *the* story about this. And, yeah, those witches were spooky, reciting their frequently familiar incantations on a dark, foggy, electrically charged, stage…
All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!
All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!
All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!
Hail!
Hail!
Hail!
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