Macbeth
Something wanting this “Macbeth” comes at the Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum. Wanting to laugh out loud, especially at some of the grislier moments shouldn’t be one of them.
Chaotic staging and indulgent choices along with awkward fight choreography and puffed up performances by both Macbeths (Jim LeFave & Susan Angelo) turns the bloodiest of Shakespeare’s tragedies into a veritable comedy of errors.
It is difficult to completely evoke a dark mood in the harsh light of an afternoon matinee. This can be made more challenging when nearby residents compete with the cast with long intervals of unwanted scoring echoing in the Topanga Canyon; especially if it’s Jimmy Buffet crooning during Lady Macbeth’s hysteria over her unclean hands, (maybe she should just take a trip to Margaritaville). But for all the inherent distractions outdoor theatre can present, the lack of enthusiastic commitment on the part of the performers and corny effects such as Macbeth’s severed head conspire against an already uninspired production.
Artistic director Ellen Geer and director Chad Jason Schneppner toil the audience’s attention and ear drums with no, not three witches as is expected (and considering this result, preferred), but eight overcooked cacklers. There is a humpback and an androgynous male thrown into the coven as inexplicably as an eye of newt. Perhaps this expansion was simply to give more reparatory members an opportunity to perform this season onstage. If so, the members would have done just as well waiting a couple of months to be cast in a haunted house attraction what with all the typical lurking, saber-rattling and carnival face painted horrors.
Fight choreography should make the audience feel the danger, but not feel like it’s dangerous. Tell that to fight choreographer Aaron Hendry who faired far better in his performance of Macduff than with his staging. When the audience wasn’t holding their breath as actors tripped over swords, (not once but twice!) and wildly swung their weapons around as if trying to strike a piñata, there were murmuring chuckles at the stiff posturing and lazy handling of oversized swords, obvious Nerf maces and a puny flail. This is supposed to be Birnam Wood, not Dodger Stadium, but one actor held his mace like a batboy collecting aluminum bats. Banquo’s character seemed unable to part with his security blanket in the form of a sword to the point of distraction, posing with it as if it were a lance he didn’t know what to do with.
The result of all the action and fight sequences is comic, (and unnerving), especially the messy battle scene where the choreography lacked any motive behind the movements. Clang-clang-clang…fall….clang-clang-clang….yawn, and the piercing of Macbeth just looked silly, even the audience couldn’t hold back their giggles as he collapsed (of all places on the big stage) on top of his fallen sword. If this was intentional, it didn’t look it as his back writhed into the hilt uncomfortably.
The only thing more uncomfortable was when Jim LeFave tried to act. He had his moments, but they were usually offstage. Onstage his glowering intensity as he peered down at the audience with melodramatic self-consciousness was all stuff and fluff, but no substance. Paired with Susan Angelo as Lady Macbeth, LeFave fared better, only because her performance was even more demonstrative and trying. Both performances lacked depth, originality or any naturalness to the text.
The only scene that vied with the Macbeths for getting the most laughs was the murder of Lady Macduff (Elizabeth Tobias) and their son (Daniel Eisner). Eisner was precious and precocious as his role is written to be. But Tobias never connected with Eisner, choosing to spew out her lines without any emotion. When Tobias was carried offstage, the only emotion the audience felt was relief.
For all of Aaron Hendry’s shortcomings as a fight choreographer, he did a bang up job as Macduff, and was one of few in the cast with some fluidity and spark. Mike Peebler gave a solid, brooding quality to Malcom and Michael McFall as Banquo made the most of his poorly directed scenes, especially the haunting of Macbeth, with his robust timbre and likable presence.
If “Macbeth” were a comedy, then this production was thoroughly enjoyable. The tragedy is unfortunately, it is not. Laughter is the best medicine of all, and if that’s the case there was enough laughter to raise even poor, old trusting Duncan from the grave. The way this Macbeth was played he couldn’t be capable of mortally stabbing anyone. It would merely be a flesh wound.
“The Tragedy of Macbeth”
The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum
1419 North Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Topanga, CA 90290
(Midway between PCH & the 101)
Runs through September 27
Pre-show discussion Sat, August 2 at 3pm
PH: 310-455-3723
Email: www.theatricum.com