Macbeth
at Washington Lee High School

Reviewed on December 13, 2013

Yena Seo
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Alex/Arl

Men have lusted for power for millennia, driven by greed and the desire for control, command and conquest. But what lengths do some people go to achieve authority? In an enthralling production of Macbeth, Washington-Lee High School chronicled one man's pursuit for absolute power and his eventual descent into madness, demonstrating just how corrosive power can be.

Considered to be William Shakespeare's most sinister play, Macbeth follows the transformation of Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis, from a virtuous and noble man to a deceitful and wicked king. After a trio of witches called the Weird Sisters approaches Macbeth to foretell his kingship, he commences a series of murders to secure his ascent to the throne, and falls into a downward spiral of paranoia and guilt from his traitorous actions.

Washington-Lee put its own creative twist on Macbeth by transporting audience members from the usual medieval Scotland setting to a tribal location. Influenced by the Shang Dynasty, Seminole Indians and the Aztecs, among others, tribal elements were integrated through makeup, costumes and set pieces, giving the well-known tale a unique feel. Additionally, the Weird Sisters were altered from being mere ministers of fate to the vengeful kin of a clan brutally murdered by Macbeth and his warriors, allowing the meddlesome witches to have personal motivation behind Macbeth's doom. Assistant director and dramaturg Ariel Pizzamiglio maturely handled these changes as she skillfully staged the tribal rituals and ceremonies in the production and, along with technical director Claire Seaton, shaped the technical elements into a cohesive whole.

Jeffrey Warren imbued the eponymous character of Macbeth with a combination of ardor and desperation, providing levels of complexity to his demanding role. Warren's chemistry with leading lady Alicia Hartz was impeccable, containing moments of both icy detachment and genuine concern, and both actors demonstrated true mastery of the Shakespearean language. Hartz's phenomenal performance as the ruthless Lady Macbeth was heightened through her remarkable emotional range as she delivered the perfect balance of élan and delusion.

Supporting actors stood out from among the cast, carrying the production with fantastic intensity and energy. Danny Sharp brought high esprit to his portrayal of Macbeth's best friend Banquo until his untimely death, after which he returned as a haunting ghost, terrifying both Macbeth and audience members alike. Max Ferlauto was delightful and hilarious as the drunken Porter, providing commendable comedic relief in a heavy drama. The Weird Sisters, played by Bailey Kowalski, Carly Greenfield and Katie Humphries, created a uniform ensemble while maintaining individual personalities, their physicality and dialects displaying true commitment to character as they brought Macbeth down to his eventual fate.

The show's technical elements brilliantly established the tribal background for the actors. Symbols and numbers were painted on set pieces such as a step pyramid, while the copious amounts of blood used in the production appeared terrifyingly realistic. Attention to detail was evident in the makeup and costuming, each character's colors and marks representing some kind of moral or meaning. Sound and music enhanced the show's tribal qualities, while lighting was expertly executed, most notably when creating an eerie silhouette of the Weird Sisters' influence on Macbeth.

While Macbeth is known in many theater circles as a cursed show, one never to be mentioned by name, Washington-Lee High School's production was anything but. Through admirable performances and earnest execution, Washington-Lee's talented cast and crew succeeded in carrying out Shakespeare's classic tale of murder, madness and mayhem in their magnificent production of Macbeth.

Maggie Hardy
Hayfield Secondary School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Alex/Arl

While traditionally a symbol of misfortune for theater gurus, Washington and Lee's production of Macbeth was certainly not suffering from any bad luck in its rendition of Shakespeare's classic tragedy.

The story is set in Scotland, where Shakespeare uses Macbeth and his ambition to explore the psychological and emotional motivators of human nature. Three witches, the Weird Sisters, prophesize that Macbeth shall after a series of events become king. With this promise in mind, and as pieces of the sisters' prophecy begin to come true, Macbeth slowly becomes devoured by his hunger for power. Alongside his wife, he plots devious plans and does blasphemous actions in order to attain his foretold right to the throne. But such actions do not come without consequences. The play is said to be written in the early seventeenth century, and was the first play Shakespeare wrote during the reign of James I of England. Throughout its history, it has drawn talented actors and actresses to the title roles of the Macbeths, and has been transformed into other forms of media numerous times, including film, literature, and opera.

The role of Macbeth was portrayed spectacularly by Jeffrey Warren, who brought passion and realism to his character, and deftly handled Macbeth's complex and numerous soliloquies. While bringing his own character to life, he also managed to create fire in the Macbeths' relationship, alongside his leading lady, Alicia Hartz. Hartz held nothing back as she mastered Lady Macbeth's complexity and brought unrivaled dedication to her role. The audience believed in her unsettling ambition and they believed in the Macbeths' chemistry.

Danny Sharp brought to life the character of Banquo, skillfully using his posture and facial expressions to portray to the audience exactly what he was feeling in precise moments in the production. Similarly, the Weird Sisters, portrayed by Bailey Kowalski, Carly Greenfield, and Katie Humphries, utilized their physicality and vocal variety to make clear their ambitions and emotions.

The ensemble as a whole threw themselves admirably into the production, always remaining engaged on stage and making use of their facial and physical reactions. They also handled some of the more difficult pieces of the production commendably, such as complicated fight scenes and the language of Shakespeare in itself.

What really set the production apart were the unique concept and the technical aspects. The production took a tribal spin on the classic tale, bringing in elements such as tribal art, clothing, and rituals. While this could be a large challenge to tackle, the tech team mastered it seemingly effortlessly, giving unique tribal make-up to each actor with meanings to their characters and hand-making each costume. They also created a simple but functional stage that opened itself to creative staging. Their interesting use of lighting to indicate mood and time on their backdrop, and the subtle use of music with tribal tones helped to set the mood and engage the audience in further in the production.

All in all, Washington and Lee's production of Macbeth was a delight to see, even if the play itself isn't so cheerful. There was certainly no evil ambition or death from this audience in reaction to this production, only appreciative applause. Very unlike Macbeth's tale indeed.

Katherine Paterson
Walt Whitman High School
Submitted for publication to ShowBizRadio.net

What do Shakespeare, the Shang Dynasty, the Mali Empire, and the Maori people have in common? The answer is Washington-Lee's original interpretation of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, in which these cultures are expertly blended and incorporated into this tribal reinvention of the classic play.

Macbeth, recognized as one of Shakespeare's darkest and most powerful tragedies, is the story of a man's rise and fall due to his Aristotelian hamartia, vaulting ambition. The play takes place during a time of unrest in Scotland, leading to a war of clans. Placing the play in a tribal setting is a realistic yet uncommon innovation.

The Macbeth duo was compelling in both their chemistry and their individual performances. Jeffrey Warren as Macbeth and Alicia Hartz as Lady Macbeth displayed a clear mastery and understanding of the complex Shakespearean language. Both actors interpreted their lines and soliloquies uniquely yet effectively. At the death of Lady Macbeth, Warren's Macbeth and some audience members were moved to tears. This last glimmer of humanity in Macbeth was heart wrenching. Hartz's interpretation of her tormented soliloquy after the murder of Duncan, while different from many, gave real depth and complexity to her character.

The Weird Sisters were another highlight of the production. The Sisters' powerful spells in a foreign language in their cauldron scene accented the tribal elements. In the role of the Second Sister, Carly Greenfield seemed to conjure her dead husband, but was devastated when she could not reach him despite her longing.

In addition, Danny Sharp's (Banquo) proud gait and booming voice effectively portrayed the ritualistic male boasting, yet he softened his interactions with his child Fleance. The audience roared at Max Ferlauto's (Porter) staggering drunkenness and physical interpretation of the sexual innuendo providing comic relief.

Dramaturg Ariel Pizzamiglio's impeccably integrated diverse tribal cultures into each symbol, color, and stitch. The use of multicultural rituals performed by the Weird Sisters was another testament to dramaturg Pizzamiglio's attention to detail. The make-up team's artistry further elevated this production and its theme.

While some struggled with diction and the intricate stage combat, overall, Washington-Lee's production of Macbeth successfully reinvented the traditional "Scottish Play," exploring the multicultural dimensions of warring clans and the universal ambition for power.

Stephen Coakley
Tuscarora
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - ARL/MC/Mont/DC

A large ziggurat sits center stage when the sound of powerful tribal drums fills the auditorium. Then an array of barefoot indigenous people take the stage for a night filled with life, death, paranoia, and guilt. Washington-Lee High School's would create an unforgettable performance with their astonishing production of Macbeth.

Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare's late tragedies, written in the early 17th century. It has become an extremely familiar play tackled on both professional and high school levels. It follows Macbeth (Jeffery Warren), the noble hero who gets his unfortunate prophecy by a group known as The Weird Sisters (Bailey Kowalski, Carly Greenfield, Katie Humphries). Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth (Alicia Hartz), then transition from a content couple to a guilty and power hungry mess after they take the thrown due to the death of King Duncan (Craig Wanda). Powerful and heroic Macduff (Tommy Muir) eventually lives to see the disturbed duo's destiny, defeating Macbeth in an epic and well choreographed battle. Washington-Lee added their own personality to the production, giving it a tribal twist, pulling from dozens of different ancient civilizations.

As Lady Macbeth, Alicia Hartz was absolute perfection. It was clear that Hartz had an impeccable grasp of her character and used her physicality, sexuality, and relationships with fellow actors to create the most enjoyable performance of the evening. As her husband, Jeffery Warren took on the daunting title role of Macbeth with poise and aplomb. Warren created a versatile character and added extensive realism to the role. Together the powerhouse couple had surreal energy and chemistry whenever on stage.

The ensemble of Weird Sisters was also another commendable aspect of the performance. They had consistent accents, fluid movements, and distinct vocal levels that added to the intensity of their scenes, never leaving them unnoticed. Together these women added to the energy of the entire cast, which was never anything but superb.

Not only was the show mesmerizing through the acting, but technically as well. All props, designed by Craig White, were extremely detailed and constantly fit the tribal theme of the show. Sound was also commendable, as every actor was heard and all sound cues were on point. Perhaps the most magnificent technical aspect of the production was the makeup, led by Lecia Stock. Every ensemble member had different tribal war paint to differentiate themselves as well as fake blood, which was scarily realistic, splashed on actors during the more intense battle sequences.

Overall, Washington-Lee High School's production of the "Scottish play" was one of the most enjoyable of the year thus far. Their unforgettable acting abilities and vigorous technical executions left audiences in awe and was one that even William Shakespeare would have been proud of.