Actors discuss play’s wardrobe and challenges
By Cheryl Minns, Arts Editor
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth just got a lot more magical with the revamp of Douglas College’s production of Charles Marowitz’s A Macbeth.
Featuring elaborate costumes inspired by Luisa Casati—described by acting student Olivia Lindgren as “the Lady Gaga of the 1920s”—and exploring internal character struggles with an alter ego, A Macbeth promises nothing less than a fantastic show.
I spoke with two of the lead actors, Parker Thompson, who plays Macbeth, and Lindgren, who plays Lady Macbeth, about what to expect in a play like this.
“Expect the unexpected,” Lindgren teased. “There’s definitely a twist to this story.”
Having some knowledge of the original play is suggested, as this version does take a few liberties with the content.
“Our play isn’t exactly Macbeth—it’s an adaptation,” Thompson explained. “All the lines that are used are from the original play, but they’re mismatched around and different characters say different things.”
The play follows the general storyline of the original, but delves deeper into the characters’ inner thoughts.
“In Macbeth, there are tons of little characters here and there and they kind of shaved this one down to put only what’s necessary. I think that really lets you see more of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and why they do what they do compared to the old story,” Thompson said.
“You get to see more of the internal struggle with the characters than what’s really portrayed on the outside,” Lindgren added.
When the theatre faculty members pick a play for a performance, they look for scripts that will challenge their students. Lindgren and Thompson agree that A Macbeth has had its challenging moments.
Lindgren described the play as a collage of scenes without formal character development. “It’s really hard to drop in and just be there in every moment, no matter what is going on,” she said.
“Assuming some pretty large and dark roles for us specifically is a battle,” Thompson said.
Learning to speak the unnatural rhythm of Shakespeare’s words has not been easy, either.
“It’s not our everyday language, it’s not the context that we live in,” Thompson explained. “I know I’ve heard many times and I’m now starting to experience that Shakespeare is some of the most difficult theatre because you have to incorporate everything that you already know and more.”
A Macbeth will be playing from November 8 to 16 at the Laura C. Muir Theatre at Douglas College’s New Westminster campus. Tickets are $10-12, and can be purchased through Massey Theatre at 604-521-5050 or tickets.masseytheatre.com
