 |
| Lainie Hart (Lady Macbeth) - Isaac Reilly (Macbeth) in "Macbeth" |
Written by William Shakespeare – Directed by Jordan Best
Stage Manager: Sophia Barrett – Sound Design by Paris
Scharkie
Fights staged by Annie Holland –
Jig Composed by Patrick Haesler – Choreographed by Jodi
Hammond.
Costumes by Jordan Best, Sophia Barrett, Gaia La Penna.
Aunty Louise Brown Park – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
-February 12th – 16th Feb.
Performance on 12th February 2025 reviewed by
BILL STEPHENS.
 |
| Isaac Reilly (Macbeth) - Paul Sweeney (Captain) in "Macbeth" |
The opportunity to experience one of William Shakespeare’s most intriguing plays in an atmosphere not dissimilar to how it might have been presented originally, proved surprisingly engrossing in this clever outdoor staging by Jordan Best.
Blessed with a balmy summer evening, a single black tent
provided the only setting. Repurposed op-shop
style costumes provided often lavish spectacle and differentiated the characters
created by the fourteen strong cast approximating an itinerate Jacobean acting troupe.
Clever directorial flourishes and the power of Shakespeare’s
extraordinarily powerful language proved all that was necessary to captivate
the opening night audience for this production of his blood drenched drama of
murder and revenge.
Such was the power of the central performances that even the
lack of theatrical lighting to differentiate night and day, or time and place, the
gender-blind casting, or gremlins in the otherwise excellent sound system
during the second act, seemed of little consequence.
While the necessity to have actors play multiple roles
sometimes proved perplexing for those unfamiliar with the text, Best’s innate
sense of theatre ensured her direction kept the action moving at a compelling
pace, punctuated by engagingly staged set-pieces, enhanced by atmospheric sound
design and amplification that allowed the nuances of Shakespeare’s quote-infused
dialogue to be relished and weave its magic.
Magic was in the air at this performance, as unexpectedly, a
flock of ravens created an unforgettable moment when they flew in and settled
on the surrounding buildings just as a character sounded a warning as to the
meaning of their presence. Then later a flock of chattering corellas, settling in
for the night, created a strangely foreboding atmosphere for the battleground
scenes.
Performing as Macbeth, Isaac Reilly offered a compelling interpretation.
His initial, superbly phrased speeches hinting at the insecurities which would
eventually lead to his downfall. Matching him as Lady Macbeth, Lainie Hart
created an intriguing characterisation at various times warm, manipulative,
controlling and finally terrified. The director’s decision to have her murdered
in full view of the audience provided a stunning moment.
The obvious attention paid to line delivery and phrasing
paid off in particularly powerful, performances delivered by Paul Sweeney as Macduff,
Max Gambale as Duncan, and Jane Ahlquist as both Ross and Porter.
Harkening back to the itinerate acting troupe theme, the
performance concluded with the entire cast participating in a merry jig to dissipate
any gloom induced by the events portrayed in the play.
Following this outdoor season at the Queanbeyan Performing
Arts Centre this production will be performed both indoors and out at various locations
around Canberra. Full details can be found on the Lakespeare website.
Images by Photox
