Macbeth Review

Artistically, Macbeth, performed by the Bloomsburg Theater Ensemble, was excellent. Because it was abridged from the original, they had to be deliberate with what they chose to show and the way the chose to show it. Although at times it felt like you were put down in the middle of a scene, it had a flow that made sense and kept the action moving. For those unfamiliar with Shakespearean language, some things could be difficult to follow, especially actions done off stage and then told about. And for those unaccustomed to the actors playing multiple roles, the multi-casting could be confusing. However, Shakespeare did both of these things, and BTE could not be faulted for the confusion they might have caused.

My biggest complaint was the omnipresence of the witches. In this interpretation, the witches not only triggered Macbeth’s treacherous thoughts, but also goaded on the action of the play. This complaint does not stem from my dislike of witches, but rather my appreciation for the debate between fate and choice. That discussion never happens because of this interpretation. The performers answered the questions for the audience, rather than having them have to do the work of asking the questions themselves.

In reading the play, we have to deal with these questions. Was Macbeth fated to do all these things? Would he have become king by honest means if he hadn’t taken things into his own hands? Are the witches watchers, or participants? Or did Macbeth hear the witches’ prophecies and make them come true for himself? And were the consequence because of his choices or because of the witches’ later prophecies? I would like to see a performance that motivates the audience ask these questions.

When I asked the director why she made the witches so important, she told me that because they are trying to make Shakespeare accessible to the next generation. Because the current youth generation has a fascination with witches, wizards, vampires and the like, it made sense to present the play in “their language.” She also said that because you never find out what happens to the witches, the questions of fate and choice can still be asked, for example, Do the witches still affect the world, or have we moved beyond the reach of spiritual forces? I can understand that perspective, and appreciate the fact that although they were trying to use ideas familiar to the youth generation, they also presented another perspective. These witches were evil and impersonal beings, not ones that could be manipulated or befriended, contrary to the representation of their contemporary literary representations. They are more dangerous though, because they have very close connection to the spiritual realms, also contrary to their contemporary representations.

On the whole, I liked it. I think it was beneficial for our high school to attend the play, and I hope they begin to ask questions about what it meant.