Play Review: Macbeth

Opinions are like assholes, but not everyone interrupts Shakespeare to show theirs.

I don’t know why every time an actor has a stage she must editorialize. Where does one get the arrogance to believe we give a damn about anything she has to say? I suppose she gets it from being on stage, the center of attention.

The real issue is this: the audience shows up to hear the words of the playwright—not the actor’s unsolicited opinions. In this case, Shakespeare. Shakespeare was socially conscious for his time, and had he been alive today, no doubt he'd have something to say about the current state of affairs. But this does not excuse an actor from hijacking his work for her own agenda.

Take, for example, the actor I won’t name - because I don’t want to bully her. She used the porter scene in Macbeth to work on her standup comedy routine. The initial jokes weren’t bad, though I wasn’t thrilled about her interrupting Shakespeare. Then, of course, she slid into the usual territory of cheap shots and ad hominem attacks. Her intention became clear: she was making a political statement. Not wanting to let the audience's attention go to waste, she had to inject her opinion. And, as Carlin said, opinions are like assholes - everybody’s got one, and they’re usually full of shit.

Aside from this, the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s performance was stellar, especially the director’s interpretation, Christopher V. Edwards. They set the play in a post-nuclear war apocalypse where Hecate is the representative of a shady organization, and the witches are her secret operatives. No lines were changed. These additions were conveyed through stage direction and set design, leaving the original dialogue intact.

Interpreting a classic like Macbeth is risky business. A director could easily pull the same stunt as the actor, hijacking the play for his own ends. A delicate balance must be struck between the director’s vision and Shakespeare’s intent. After all, I came to see a Shakespeare play, not a “Christopher V. Edwards” play. (For a hilarious example of what can go wrong, watch that Family Guy episode where Peter Griffin directs The King and I).

Another potential problem is the director’s interpretation just might blow. Taste is subjective, and while I personally appreciated Edwards’ post-apocalyptic take, you may have a different feeling.

In the end, theater is a collaboration between writer, director, actor and audience - and it only works when each respects their role. When an actor goes on a soapbox rant, it breaks the spell. We’re there for Shakespeare, not a TED Talk. If you’ve got something to say, write your own damn play. Otherwise, say the lines, hit your marks and leave the talking to the Bard.

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