New adaptation puts the lady into ‘MacBeth’
Theater: Shakespeare meets Xena in a post-apocalyptic version of the Bard’s classic
By LEONARD
HYMAN
Theater/Art
Editor
Essentially, the
Knightsbridge Theatre gave Macbeth a sex change. Now the once-male, butch
hero of one of William Shakespeare's greatest tragedies is being played by
the equally butch but very female Karesa McElheny in Knightsbridge's "Lady
Macbeth," which opened last Saturday.
While this gives
the show an interesting spin, making one of Shakespeare's most masculine
characters a woman seems almost passe in a world of Xenas, Buffys and Lara
Crofts.
In some subtle
ways, the gender reversal makes certain scenes feel slightly more
compelling coming from a female lead. For example, when Lady Macbeth
played by the equally dynamic Shari Shattuck tells Macbeth that she would
keep her word even to the point of dashing out the brains of a baby, the
scene somehow achieves a greater level of poignancy because both have the
potential to bear children.
The same pathos
persists when Macbeth becomes angry that her success might only win the
crown for also-female Banquo's children.
The switch also
allows for some spicy make-out scenes between the female Macbeth and her
partner Lady Macbeth but ultimately, do these subtle changes really affect
the show?
The simple
answer is no, and herein lies both the greatest strengths and weaknesses of
"Lady Macbeth."
Joseph Stachura,
the director, explained that his initial vision had been to cast Macbeth as
a woman and then hold open casting calls for all the parts, so that there
would be a mix of genders and races in the different roles.
Shakespeare, of
course, didn't write many strong roles for women Lady Macbeth being one of
the exceptions so Stachura hoped this casting call would create some roles
for female actors. In the end, Banquo and Malcolm both became women, but
most of the characters stayed true to their original genders.
(Unfortunately, a male who had been cast as a witch had other
commitments.)
These
differences are subtle, and what makes "Lady Macbeth" so compelling is
simply that the gender differences don't stand out. The show stays
consistently believable, because the switches barely faze the audience.
Ultimately, the
Knightsbridge Theatre has created a very solid rendition of Shakespeare's
"Macbeth." The company overcomes the language barrier that often separates
the Bard's works from most modern audiences' comprehension. The players
successfully communicate not only the raw emotions essential to their
characters but also the details of the intrigue that even most readers find
difficult.
Still, while the
program proudly touts that this version of the play takes place in a
post-apocalyptic society, the show seems much more comfortable in
Shakespearean society than in a post-apocalyptic future. For example, the
costumes barely suggest the future society in which we are told the play
takes place. Rather, the leather boots, fur-lined coats and heavy knits
look as though they would fit more appropriately in the Renaissance.
In this respect,
then, the play is slightly unsatisfying. While altering the setting and
gender roles in a Shakespearean play often creates a more playful feel and
can even provide greater insight into its universal themes, this rendition
feels too close to the original to take advantage of its changes.
Still, the show
remains solid, and it is a testament to its effectiveness that its female
Macbeth would seem perfectly in place to someone who didn't know the
original.
u
"Lady Macbeth"
is playing at the Knightsbridge Theatre, 1944 Riverside Dr., through Oct.
21. Show times are 8 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $22 for
general admission and $16 for students and seniors. For information, call
(626) 440-0821 or visit www.knightsbridgetheatre.com.
Copyright 2001 by the Daily Trojan. All rights reserved.
This article was published in Vol. 144, No. 19 (Monday, September 24, 2001), beginning on page 7 and ending on page 18.