Macbeth well-executed

By Kensey King     11/9/11 6:00pm

Murder, greed, war: William Shakespeare's Macbeth is rich with drama. Performing this play can be tricky due to its notoriety (it is rumored to be cursed) in the theater world. The Rice Visual and Dramatic Arts Department does a tremendous job in its execution of Shakespeare's Macbeth with a talented cast and unmatched technical details.

The play opens on Macbeth and Banquo's victory against invading armies. After being promoted to the position of Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth, plot to kill the Scottish King, Duncan. Once they commit the dirty deed, their desire for more bloodshed increases until they become so evil that their dark desires never give them full satisfaction. Eventually, other members of their court see the cruelty of their ways and fight for revenge on the traitors to the throne.

The lead actor, Jones College senior Carter Spires, stands strong in the demanding role of Macbeth. He evokes inner turmoil perfectly through his facial expressions and body language. Also, he manages to show the downfall of Macbeth's morality, for at the beginning he hesitates at the thought of committing murder, but by the end shows no sign of regret as his thirst for blood flies out of control. With her innocent and sweet looks, Jones sophomore Susannah Eig gives a chilling performance as the deceptive and vicious Lady Macbeth. Eig's range of emotions is impressive, and she speaks with confidence throughout the play. The chemistry between Macbeth and his lady as they plot murders and evil deeds burns bright, bringing another level of wickedness to their already dark characters.

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The supporting male roles of Banquo, played by Hanszen College sophomore Omar Tariq, Macduff, played by Wiess College senior Dustin Tannahill and King Duncan, played by Joseph Lockett (Hanszen College '91), stand in the spotlight as well with great performances. Tariq and Tannahill are regal in their performances, and they execute their fight scenes well. Seasoned actor Lockett makes his role memorable with his interesting interpretation of Shakespearean verse and expressive movement.

Living up to their name, the Weird Sisters, played by Associate Director of Rice's Insitute of Biosciences and Bioengineering Lisa Blinn, McMurtry College senior Hannah Thalenberg and Hanszen junior Nicki Pariseau, command the audience's attention with their intricate costumes and eerie voices. They synchronize well together and perform their verses in such a way that they seem fresh and unrehearsed.

Setting this well-known tale in the cold war really gives the whole production a refreshing twist. From the set to the costumes, Director Christina Keefe and Assistant Director and Wiess senior TJ Burleson's creativity shines through. The set itself features a wide range of old scrap metal, road signs, billboards and junk, giving the story an apocalyptic feel to it. The two levels on the set also add value to the play, as they make the fighting scenes more exciting and allow for easy transitions.

The sound plot for this production is top-notch and helps the scene transition flow smoothly. The music, a mix between punk rock and horror film soundtrack, fills the gaps between scene changes, keeping the audience entranced in Shakespeare's words. Along with the sound, the lighting for this show is the best I have seen in Rice Theater. A contributing factor was the high number of lighting instruments, which allowed for many light variations and tones. For example, the lighting representing rain projected onto the entire stage is mesmerizing.  

The costumes of this play are incredibly detailed, adorned with metal nails and silver chains. By using camouflage pants and jackets, the director's detailed vision is clear.

VADA's interpretation of Macbeth features a great, energetic cast and with the creative spin on the setting, gives an old story a new feel. If you're in the mood for a first-rate university production, then you really should go ?check out Macbeth.

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