|
Regional Reviews: St. Louis Macbeth Also see Richard's review of R+J: A Telephone Play, or Don't Drink The Milk
Colin Nichols as Macbeth is every bit the match for the scheming Lady Macbeth played by the resolute Erin Struckhoff—though, in fact, her monologs balance naturalism and stylishness, and she's also the most deeply disturbing sleepwalker I've ever seen (after all the killing takes its toll). But Mr. Nichols is never over-shadowed—well, not for long, anyway: his Macbeth is subtle without scheming, desperate and calculating without wracking and raving, and pilots the whole story with tremendous ease and grace. Thoughts ring in his mind just as his own soft, perfectly modulated voice somehow manages to ring through the whole auditorium, quietly riveting our attention. And it's all so clear, partly because Shakespeare himself made it one of the most relentless and straightforward stories in his canon. But also in large part because director Nancy Crouse always puts the right emphasis in the right places. Brad Kinzel amp-ups a huge amount of drama, appearing in monstrous fashion as the ghost of Banquo, Macbeth's guilty nightmare, over and over. And then there's the literal march of future kings, Banquo's descendants, also quite impressive, and truly vexing to our anti-hero. Both Mr. Nichols and Ms. Struckhoff are so great, not just as intimate theatrical 'presences' on stage, but also in being so struck, each of them, with an almost erotic level of ambition, till the whole slaughterhouse that follows becomes absolutely inevitable. Mass murder has never been so implacable. David Hawley is terrific as King Duncan, and later as a doctor and an archbishop. In real life, I imagine a coterie of dwarves and hobbled veterans must follow him around everywhere he goes, as if he were some royal personage: as an entourage to transcribe his every utterance, and clear a path for him at the DMV and such. Hecate and the three witches are very fine: the infinitely serene Gwynneth Rausch as their hidden ruler, bringing the cackling trio (Mary Robert, Mary Klein and Denise Saylor) to heel, eventually. Their cauldron is built right into center-stage throughout, in a lovely gnarled set that grows organically out of the forest, including a stately pagan throne in the trees. (This too was beautifully designed by director Crouse.) Mark A. Neels is patrician without seeming petty, as Malcolm; and James McCullough does nicely in the comical role of the porter. Patrick Bowden and Ariel Campos make for genuinely threatening murderers, out after Macduff's unfortunate family. And as Macduff, Ethan H. Jones is elegant and cerebral, till vengeance forces Macduff to meet Macbeth on the field of battle one last time. Ms. Crouse does have a few flies buzzing around her own version of Golgotha, but they're almost not worth mentioning—like two or three sound cue problems (timing and volume). In a lesser production, these would hardly be remarkable at all. And although he's truly excellent in his later appearances, long-time stage veteran Brad Slavik forgets to "make it personal" in the play's first big speech, recounting Macbeth's moment of honor on the field of battle (which sets the victor on the bloody path to the throne). On the first Sunday, this was an "Extra Big Speech" in his hands, and therefore a kind of red herring: one that lowers our expectations, making every good thing to come seem even better—including his own, subtler reappearances in later roles. Long-time 'theater people' in town will also get a funny kind of thrill from seeing Mr. Slavik on stage (in what is otherwise a throwaway scene) together with local musician Daniel Higgins and the always-reliable fill-in actor (for his photographic memory) Joe Wegescheide. It is, for some of us, a brief "core-sample" of the rough and tumble of the last 40 years of local theater. Thank you, as well, Ms. Crouse: for a rare spotlight on three estimable, workmen-like performers. Through May 3, 2015, at the South Campus of Washington University (the former CBC prep school), across from the Esquire movie theatre on Clayton Rd. For more information visit www.placeseveryone.org. Characters Macbeth: Colin Nichols Banquo: Brad Kinzel Macduff: Ethan H. Jones Lenox: Jeff Lovell Siward: Brad Slavik Old Man: Brad Slavik Hecate: Gwynneth Rausch Apparitions: Ethan Jones, Mark A. Neels, Sasha Albright, Brooke Newcomb Production Staff Light Board Operator: Jenn Ciavarella "Come Away" (Song) composed by Mary Robert
|
