Macbeth 2008

The Troupe’s second fully-staged, indoor Shakespeare production directed by Peter Baldock with John Marwick as Macbeth and Fran Baldock as Lady Macbeth. In the Wellington District Theatre Federation full length play competition for 2008 the play won best the award for best sound (Rae Dickinson) and lighting (Peter Baldock).

2008 Macbeth – William Shakespeare

28 photos

FOCUSED PRODUCTION OF MACBETH

Reviewed by Ewen Coleman

As a play, Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth has it all: the supernatural, treachery, murder, sword fights, which – coupled with fts many short, succinct scenes and a relatively unencumbered story line makes it one of the more engrossing of his plays. And Butterfly Creek Theatre Troupe’s production, under the direction of Peter Baldock, does much to enhance the bard’s writing with its simple setting that focuses on the actors and their interpretation of the piece. It’s a big ask, which this group pulls off exceptionally well with a fluid and focused production that is gripping, engaging, highly dramatic and very atmospheric in its presentation.

Using the whole of the cavernous school hail with nothing but black roster for a set, Macbeth’s tragedy is played out. It is prophesied by three witches (Florence Macfarlane, Sandra Gillespie, Sue Jones) that one day Macbeth (John Marwick) a faithful servant of King Duncan (Laurie Atkinson) will wear the crown. Egged on by his wife, Lady Macbeth (Fran Baldock), he decides to speed up the process by having the king murdered.

He then becomes heady with ambition, and like many in power – Mugabe in Zimbabwe a modern-day example – reason flies out the window in the process. This in turn makes him paranoid that his life will also be short-lived. So to achieve his goal he begins a reign of terror, killing friends and foe alike, including his friend Banquo (Damian Reid). Eventually Malcolm (Theo Nettleton), the dead king’s son, and Macduff (Will Clannachan) raise an army from England against Macbeth, who is eventually defeated and killed, along with others, including Macbeth’s wife.

Avoiding sentimentality and melodrama, this production – aided by excellent lighting and sound effects brings out the humanity of the play. The Witches, who are often played as hysterically screaming youths, are mature women with power arid authority.

Macbeth’s transformation works well, his indecisions and superstition coupled with the love of his wife making his down-fall all the more heartfelt. Lady Macbeth also plays out her part with conviction, her famous sleepwalking scene: “Out, dammed spot! Out, I say!” finely judged and portrayed, making this production of one of the bard’s better-known plays compelling theatre.