Theatre Workshop of Owensboro will present “Macbeth” beginning Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Empress Theatre. Directed by Rebecca Wright, who is currently teaching theatre classes at Western Kentucky University while finishing her Ph.D., this adaption is set in the time of the “real Macbeth,” 1040 A.D.
The Scottish play is Shakespeare’s second bloodiest, and this production has several battles and fights, one including the child actors.
“The young actors are having so much fun during fight training, we have to remind them not to have huge smiles while being fatally wounded,” Wright said.
The fight scenes have been choreographed by Wes Bartlett, and Wright said he has been doing a fabulous job keeping the actors are safe.
“We open with a Viking battle against the Scots and close with a broadsword fight between the two Macs [Macbeth and Macduff],” Wright said.
“We have such a great, dedicated cast, many of whom have also been chipping in with props and set work…painting the giant Pictish tower and undertaking the tedious task of making traditional 4-in-1 European chainmail out of yarn,” said Wright.
This is not the first Shakespearean play Wright as directed for TWO; she has directed “Hamlet,” a modern version of “Twelfth Night” as a Shakespeare in the Park play down at Owensboro’s riverfront and also “Much Ado About Nothing During a Zombie Apocalypse” with the TWO Youth. “Macbeth” was one of three options Wright proposed to the program committee to add a tragedy during the main-stage season at TWO.
Wright enjoys adapting shows for the audience that will attend. For “Macbeth,” she consolidated the many of the characters into roles that “were a little more defined.” The witches, one of the driving forces in “Macbeth,” make more appearances than originally scripted and one of the thanes becomes a villain.
“We are keeping with the traditional villainy of the Macbeths and both Nate Gross [Macbeth] and Megan Leavitt [Lady Macbeth] are very fun to watch while they plot the demise of their king and friends,” Wright said.
TWO has rated the play as PG-13, because of the violence. There will be a school performance on Friday and two Daviess County High School teachers are taking two AP Literature classes to see “Macbeth.”
“It will be a nice compliment to our studies this semester and kids benefit from seeing a live performance — as Shakespeare’s plays were meant to be experienced,” said Jessica Jones, DCHS teacher.
Public performances are Sept. 7, 8, 14, and 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 9 and 16 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at www.theatreworkshop.org.
