By Whitney Sorensen
Off the Map, BYU’s International Theatre Festival, brings UK-based theatre company Out of Chaos to Provo with four performances of their two-man adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. This show shortens the Scottish play to 80 minutes but still contains all the political intrigue and famous lines you expect from Macbeth.
The extreme cutting of Shakespeare’s original script is only one way this performance strives to show that less can be more. The nearly bare stage contains only six small light boxes, three tall fabric screens, and three table-shaped prop boxes. The set’s color palette is also subdued, with only neutrals like black, white, and brown gracing the stage.
Even with so few elements to play with, designer Claire Browne creates visual interest that adds to the drama during the play’s pivotal moments. For example, during the midnight murder of King Duncan, the stage goes entirely black except two harsh white lights carried by the actors. Macbeth (Paul O’Mahony) also delivers the “tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow” soliloquy with his face framed by two of the table-shaped boxes, as if to symbolize how his world has become so small because of his murderous deeds.
O’Mahony is the artistic director of Out of Chaos, and in this production portrays Macbeth as well as Malcolm, Duncan’s heir to the throne, and Ross, a Scottish thane. His co-star, Troels Hagen Findsen, takes on many additional roles, including King Duncan, Banquo, Lady Macbeth, and Macduff. Half the joy of seeing their Macbeth is watching them switch roles instantaneously with only voice and physicality to keep the audience up to speed. They give all the well-known lines the gravity they deserve, but their expertise in Shakespearean language also makes lesser-known pieces of the text stand out.
During the talk-back with the cast and creative team after the January 25 performance, an audience member remarked that this is the most cheerful and happy version of Macbeth she’s ever seen. Her critique is spot-on. Out of Chaos makes the play more humorous by having O’Mahony and Findsen bring out the humor. They do this through various character voices they use and by exploiting the play’s celebratory moments to get the audience on the side of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, even if only for a moment.
In fact, the audience interaction is the element of this Macbeth that will stick with me most. Although the two-man cast delivers most of the lines, at several times front-row audience members are invited to read lines and participate as servants, messengers, and other minor roles. During other times, the audience as a whole is asked to cheer for the actions onstage, or the house lights come up so we cannot hide our spectator reactions. At times, I couldn’t help but think I should step in and stop Macbeth from carrying out another murder for his own gain. Theatrical decorum kept me in my chair, but I still wondered whether I am too much of a bystander when political scandals happen in my real world.
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Treat yourself to some world-class Shakespeare this weekend. See Out of Chaos present Macbeth at BYU’s Off the Map International Theatre Festival.
Off the Map: BYU International Theatre Festival presents Out of Chaos’s Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Pardoe Theatre, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU, Provo, UT
January 25-27
Tickets: $13-17
Contact: 801-422-2981
Out of Chaos
Macbeth at BYU
Macbeth at BYU Facebook Event
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