Kei’la Ryan, Morgan Hill, and Varda Appleton appear as the Three Witches in MACBETH for Shakespeare by the Sea’s 2017 Season. Directed by Stephanie Coltrin. Playing June 22-August 18 in various locations throughout Southern California. Photo by Mickey Elliott
Shakespeare by The Sea put on a wonderful production of Macbeth and The Taming of The Shrew last Weekend at Saddleback College. In this article, I will be focusing on Macbeth and will post another article about Taming of The Shrew shortly. I saw SBTS’s Macbeth this last Saturday at Saddleback college as part of their Summer of Theatre initiative out on the upper campus quad.
One of Shakespeare’s most popular and well-known plays, The Tragedy of Macbeth follows the rise and downfall of the eponymous Macbeth, who after being told by a group a Witches that he will be King of Scotland. He decides to take matters into his own hands by murdering the King of Scotland and then takes his place. Macbeth soon realizes that one death will not be enough to secure his reign and qualm suspicions. As the death toll rises the people of Scotland band together to stop their tyrannical ruler. After one of the greatest twists in Shakespearean literature, Macbeth is beheaded by our hero, MacDuff. (Hey! It’s a tragedy so I didn’t really spoil anything, also it’s been around for over 400 years. Go read SparkNotes or something)
Melissa Booey (Lady Macbeth) and Patrick Vest (Macbeth) star in MACBETH for Shakespeare by the Sea’s 2017 Season. Directed by Stephanie Coltrin. Playing June 22-August 18 in various locations throughout Southern California. Photo by Mickey Elliott
The show and its cutting were fast paced, concise, and never dragged. This production is a great way for audience members who may not be familiar with Shakespeare to become acquainted with it. As well as being clear and to the point, it is also a thrilling, daring, and fresh retelling of one of The Bard’s most well- respected works. Even with a limited cast and staging, SBTS gets its point across in what I think is classic Shakespearean staging.
Patrick Vest stars in the title role of Macbeth in Shakespeare by the Sea’s 2017 Production of MACBETH. Directed by Stephanie Coltrin. Playing June 22-August 18 in various locations throughout Southern California. Photo by Mickey Elliott
Shakespeare By The Sea started in 1998 by Lisa Coffi, is a non-profit organization that “partners with local city organizations, enabling [them] to offer performances for free.” Actors sign on to perform in one, or both, of two different Shakespeare productions for ten weeks from San Pedro to The Bay Area.
Each production is free admission (recommended donation of $10 per person) and open to all ages. There is plenty of SBTS merchandise and a raffle to enter at each performance.
More about their amazing program and others can be found on their website: http://www.shakespearebythesea.org/wp/about-us/. If you missed the shows at Saddleback, there are many other opportunities to see SBTS at local parks and other locations: http://www.shakespearebythesea.org/wp/locations/
Brigitte Rose
Entertainment Editor
Aliso Laguna News/ Green Local News
