Carolinian

Issue date: 10/3/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: photo courtesy david wilson and uncg theatre Ann Cole as Lady Macbeth and David Harrell as Macbeth.

Wednesday, Sept. 27 was the opening night for UNCG Theatre's production of William Shakespeare's Macbeth. I had never been to a play here at UNCG, but I can honestly say that I was quite impressed, and with a nearly full theatre on opening night, the cast and production staff should be rather proud of themselves.

The stage itself was a sight to be seen, with a deconstructed set that looked like a cross between a stylized construction area and a post-apocalyptic city in ruins. The set design, as well as the stylish warrior costumes, was extremely well done, as was the production overall. Lauren Williams, who helped out with the set and props, said that it was "a lot of work" putting everything together, but the work that she and everyone else had put into it sure paid off.

While the dialogue was no different, the play had a modern twist, with an unidentifiable setting that could be anywhere and anytime. Either way, the mood was set for tragedy. David Harrell shined in the title role of Macbeth, and in my opinion was the best actor on the stage. Coming in at a close second, however, were the three witches, portrayed by Lindy Flowers, Rene Walek, and Emma Reaves, who also did a superb job in capturing the crazy demeanor of their characters.

As for the rest of the cast, everyone was extremely professional and did a good job as well, which the audience seemed to appreciate and enjoy. Except for a few instances of immature laughter at inappropriate times, which was by no means a reflection of the play itself, the crowd seemed pleased with the production. Jon Robertson, an audience member who admits to not being a big fan of Shakespeare in general, still found the play entertaining.

"They're doing a good job," he said of the performances, and I must agree. As my first experience of UNCG Theatre came to end, I have to say that I was pleased, and would definitely recommend this play to anyone who is fan of theatre. It was professionally handled and well done.

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