Classic troupe stages a spot-on 'Macbeth'William Shakespeare may not have written many significant roles for women, but the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company's forceful production of "Macbeth" proves that when he did write female-friendly roles, he went all- out.
Actor Lesley Malin made the role of the guilt-ridden Lady Macbeth the central focus of the new production that opened Friday at the Howard County Center for the Arts. Malin was, by turns, aggressive, sexy, desperate, controlling and finally, suicidal.
It's a performance that will have you wondering if Shakespeare shouldn't have called this show "Lady Macbeth."
Director Ian Gallanar eschews high concepts and gimmicks in favor of allowing his troupe of mostly veteran actors to concentrate on the script and the characters. It's a back-to-basics approach that can't really be faulted -- though it can't be called brilliant, either, like the troupe's audacious "Comedy of Errors."
The word-heavy production engages the intellect, all right, but it would be all the more effective if it better engaged the emotions.
Most folks know the story about a Scottish king convinced by his power-seeking wife to slay another king, Duncan, and grab the throne of Scotland. Macbeth gets what he wanted (a victory), but loses any hope of tranquility as supernatural forces prey upon his guilt.
Scott Alan Small makes Macbeth all aggression and rage, getting the most out of his many confrontational scenes. By contrast, Frank B. Moorman plays his nemesis, Duncan, as a model of level-headedness. Small shows his range by ably transitioning from his floor-stomping showcases into the touching romantic interludes with Lady Macbeth.
One thing that really angers the king is a trio of witches that always seem to portend trouble. Well, what did you expect from witches, Halloween candy? Played by Jenny Leopold, Jenny Crooks and Lorraine Imwold, the trio's movement-heavy scenes add an intoxicating otherworldly element to the proceedings.
Reality is hammered home in the battles that ensue. Before you know it, Macbeth has ordered the killing of his former friend Banquo (Wayne Willinger) and wiped out the family of Macduff (Charlie Mitchell), including his visibly pregnant wife (played by visibly pregnant actor Tami Moon).
The murders take their toll on the upwardly-mobile Macbeths. Lady Macbeth seeks to appease her husband with the admonition that "a little water will clear us of this deed," and she's right because clearly no one in Shakespeare's time could have foreseen DNA collecting at crime scenes.
But the psychological ramifications of murder leave Lady Macbeth worse for wear. Before we know it, she's wandering around, looking like a shadow of her former self and muttering the classic line "Out, damn'd spot! Out, I say!" It's a riveting scene, displaying range unforeseen from longtime company member Malin.
Good old Macbeth returns to the witches for guidance. Maybe he should have consulted instead with another roving female, Hectate, the goddess of the moon (played by Santina Maiolatesi). At least she could have sung an operatic interlude, like she skillfully does in one of the production's other memorable scenes.
Equally as intriguing as the action of this production is director Gallanar and lighting designer Dave Eske's decision to keep the stage darkly lit. While this makes the unfolding drama suitably ominous, it also dulls the intensity, robbing the audience of witnessing the immediacy of the fight scenes and reading the nuances on actors' faces.
Finally, a word needs to be said about the use of teenage actors: Chesapeake Shakespeare mixes them in comfortably here, setting an example as to how professional troupes can and should blend underage actors in their shows. The trio of Daniel Swann, Megan Lentz and Brennan Johnson work well with their Actors Equity counterparts, bringing an authenticity to the youthful roles that would have seemed forced if played by older actors.
Maybe that's one reason the lights were so low: You don't want young 'uns witnessing all that violence!
The Chesapeake Shakespeare Company continues its production of "Macbeth" Friday-Saturday 8 p.m., and Sunday 2 p.m., Nov. 15-18 and Nov. 30-Dec. 2, in the Howard County Center for the Arts' Black Box Theatre (8510 High Ridge Road, Ellicott City). Admission is $25 general, $15 for seniors and students younger than 21. Call 866-811-4111 or go to www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com.
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