The Classical Theatre Company’s Macbeth: A Theatre Review

By Caden Brody

Originally published in Monkeybiz.ca,  Tuesday, December 4, 2012 01:10 PM

The Classical Theatre Company’s Macbeth drops the famous play in today’s corporate world and makes it believable while remaining true to The Bard’s original intent. Co-directed by Peter Anderson, who brings the role of Macbeth to life with visceral energy and admirable singleness of focus, and Tyler Brent, acting as Doctor and Siward with equal passion and skill, the play is a group effort. All the actors are there purely for love of the play.

The ensemble is comprised of people of diverse life experience. There is an art director who works in Toronto advertising agencies (William LeGood) who is stellar as Banquo and Mentieth (I couldn’t stop thinking how powerful his stage presence was every time he appeared), to Laura Ellis, a graduate of Fanshawe College’s Theatre Arts program, who is delightful as Lady Macbeth, to Theresa Cooke, a theatre veteran who is brilliantly diabolical as Hecate, wonderfully sympathetic as Lady MacDuff and Gentlewoman, and on it goes from lawyers to administrators. The special effects are well done and perfectly timed. Best bubbling, smoking cauldron scene I’ve ever seen.

When I first saw mobile phones and Jackson-Triggs wine bottles on stage, and the actors in modern business attire I must admit I thought I had the wrong play. Five minutes in I realized they were employing the language and plot of Shakespeare’s Macbeth to tell a bloody tale of an executive’s relentless climb up the corporate ladder with the inevitable consequences of those actions.

Shakespeare remains timeless and this fast-paced performance by the Classical Theatre Company makes one feel one is in the thick of the action, something it takes tremendous talent to accomplish.

As Macbeth, Anderson, whose previous credits include Mark Antony, Dracula and Henry James, maintains the same energy and believability as the volatile lead character from the plays’ opening to the final curtain call. Laura Ellis plays Lady Macbeth with impeccable timing and flair. In the program every single cast and crew member state that they are grateful to be in the play, and thank Anderson and Brent.

Aha Blume, who takes on the roles of Ross, Porter, First and Second Apparitions, explains, “Everyone worked really hard, it was an ensemble and couldn’t have been done without everyone’s participation.” Every player on that stage echoes those sentiments as one. They work as a team, supporting one another. That they genuinely enjoy working together shows in a lively, flawlessly timed performance, true to Shakepeare’s lines and message. A timeless tale told in this case in our time period. I recommend seeing it. You’ll find yourself so immersed in the action that the time flies by, and I can honestly say you’ll be talking about it for days afterwards.