The Frog & Peach Theatre Company was founded in 1996. Their goal was to present Shakespeare to the public. They edit texts to keep the verse intact and maintain efficiency. The audience is drawn into Shakespeare’s world. Shakespeare’s messages remain clear. Macbeth – What if a madman were king? clearly achieves this goal.
Macbeth tells the corrupting nature of unlimited ambition, the great impact of guilt, and the question of appearance versus reality. These connected themes move the tragedy as we see how Macbeth’s ambition leads to treason, madness, and finally destruction. Macbeth’s heartless vengeance and grab for power are reflected in modern politics, drug cartels, and media. This production illuminates the connections. Thus, we can clearly see Shakespeare’s message to our world.
Frequently, a modern star will decide to act in a Shakespearean play. The production became elaborate, with the star overshadowing the rest of the cast. This is the opposite of Macbeth – What if a madman were king? The production takes place on a simple two-level black stage. Occasionally, props such as a chair (throne) or a cauldron are brought on stage. The cast is wearing modern clothing with minor additions such as a crown or swords. Thus, the play is moved solely by Shakespeare’s words and the skillful actors.
The director, Lynnea Benson, has assembled a talented cast. Evan Frank, the set designer, and Victoria Brown, the costume designer, have ensured that this vision of Macbeth is realized. As lighting director, JJ Jayaraman enhances the scenes with illumination to effectively convey the intended messages.
Vivan Landau, Jaixa Irizarry, and Erica Cafarelli are the three weird sisters. They reflect Macbeth’s inner turmoil. Their words goad Macbeth into acting. Oliver Conant portrays Duncan as a naïve king who blindly trusts Macbeth. The result of his trust is that he is killed in a cowardly fashion in defiance of the laws of hospitality. The roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are played by DazMann Still and Amy Frances Quint. They are a lovable couple who are destroyed by Macbeth’s ambition. Ms. Quint shows us a wife who has no hesitation in helping her husband achieve his ambitions. She clearly believes families that slay together, stay together.
Amy Frances Quint depicts Lady Macbeth’s madness as her husband succumbs to ambition and fear, and she is increasingly isolated. DazMann Still’s Macbeth is a brave fighter, undone by ambition. Macbeth’s growing suspicion makes him react with increasing cruelty until everything falls apart. Anuj Parikh is Macduff. His strongest scene is when he finds out that his castle has been taken by Macbeth. His blend of betrayal and grief strongly resonates with the audience. Eric Doss is Banquo. Doss clearly shows us the shift from Macbeth’s ally to his nemesis.
Though some repetitions and obscure references have been removed, the essence of Macbeth endures. The low comedy scenes remain. David Elyha, as the porter, tells a series of “knock–knock” jokes that seem modern. He then switches to portraying Hecate. The switch is flawless. Throughout Macbeth, strong actors play every character. This is an ideal combination of equity and non-equity actors. Rather than a showcase production, it is the play that speaks to us.
This production clearly brings Macbeth into our world. This two-hour and fifteen-minute production progresses at a brisk pace, engaging the audience with each development and emotional moment. The Frog and Peach Theatre Company has clearly achieved their goal of sweeping “modern audiences to new worlds of fun and entertainment.” This production of Macbeth should not be missed.
