Scene - Blogs - Preview of a review Macbeth.

Courtneay Sanders and Chris Crawford in "Macbeth"

Preview of a review: "Macbeth."
Published: 9/12/2010 8:34 AM
Last Modified: 9/12/2010 8:34 AM

The full review -- well, I hope the full review, things do get trimmed from time to time -- of the Playhouse Tulsa's production of "Macbeth" is scheduled to appear in Monday's Tulsa World.

However, if the four of you who regularly read this blog are in the mood to see a play this afternoon ("Macbeth" will be performed 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12, at the Tulsa PAC), here's something to consider:

"The effect this 'Macbeth' has on its audience — at least, to judge by the reaction of those at Friday’s opening night performance at the Tulsa PAC — is stunning. And that effect is probably very much like the one produced when the play was first presented on the Globe Theatre stage sometime around 1605.

"Shakespeare took what was a relatively familiar story to his audience and turned it completely inside out to tell a story of ambition, madness and murder — how even a supposedly good and heroic person can be lured into committing the most heinous acts of evil in the pursuit of, and to maintain one’s hold on, power. And it’s full of incidents that were designed to make even the rowdiest orange-sucking groundling be gobsmacked into silence.

"Playhouse’s production, directed by Chris Crawford, achieves something similar, because this show never takes the easy way out of presenting the humanity and the horror at the heart of this story.

"Most of the violent deaths in the show — and “Macbeth” is one of Shakespeare’s gorier tragedies — happen on stage, in full view of the audience, and are properly brutal, messy and shocking.

"The supernatural elements — the play is also chock full of ghosts — employ some simple and some complex stage effects that are creepily effective. The whole scene when the ghost of Banquo first appears is a powerhouse moment that we’ll just let you experience rather than describe.

"Best of all, the main characters in this drama are portrayed as genuinely complex and real human beings, so that every character’s death — even those of the nominative villains — seems a tragic waste."

Reader Comments

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JenHanson (2 years ago)

Well, speaking as one of your 4 readers . . . I was there Friday night, and "stunning" is a great word to describe my experience with this play. Such passion, ambition, and humanity...not things today's viewer tends expect from archaic Shakespeare...

And another pleasant surprise? I was able to understand ALL of it, because the actors told the story beyond the words. It was a thoroughly enjoyable (albeit occasionally uncomfortable) night at the theater.

Can't wait for the full review!

Jayhawk Ken (2 years ago)

Thank you, Mr. Watts, for once again whetting my appetite for a local production. You have a bad habit of doing that and it often proves expensive for me, but I almost always agree with you assessments.

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ARTS

James D. Watts Jr. has lived in Oklahoma for most his life, even though he still has people saying to him, "Don't sound like you're from around these parts." A University of Oklahoma Phi Beta Kappa graduate, Watts has received the Governor Arts Award, Harwelden Award and the National Conference of Christians and Jews Beth Macklin Award for his writing. Before coming to the Tulsa World, Watts worked for the Tulsa Tribune.

Contact him at (918) 581-8478.

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Archive

Past Articles By James D. Watts Jr

2/15/2013		'Concept/OK' exhibit ends Saturday
2/14/2013		Symphony to host piano soloist
2/14/2013		Broadway tours bring 'Shrek,' improv musical to Tulsa area this weekend
2/14/2013		Arts roundup: Improv reigns at several upcoming theater events
2/14/2013		'Lion King' returns to Tulsa PAC June 4
2/12/2013		Review: Signature Symphony reprises '100 Years of Oklahoma Music'
2/11/2013		Tulsa Symphony's concert salutes diverse American music
2/10/2013		Cherokee artist weaves messages into baskets
2/10/2013		Tesla Quartet set for Tulsa residency next week with variety of activities
2/10/2013		Jim Murphy wins 2013 Anne Zarrow Award
2/10/2013		LBJ chronicler Robert Caro to speak at TU on Tuesday
2/9/2013		Theater review: Playhouse makes "Barefoot in the Park" believable

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