Paisano

Issue date: 10/16/07 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Dr. Mark Allen

The tale of a murderous plot, a fateful prophecy and the death of a king was brought to UTSA's Recital Hall as Actors from the London Stage performed William Shakespeare's Macbeth.

Dan Winter, Charlotte Allam, Chris Donnelly, Brigid Zengeni and Will Ashcroft comprised the troupe and played all of the 29 roles in the play.

There was no director for the play; the actors directed the play themselves and make all decisions on the style of performance and the types of props.

Macbeth is a captain who, upon hearing a prophecy of his reign of power, devises a plan with his wife to murder King Duncan, the king of Scotland. This is only the beginning of Macbeth's murderous plot as he struggles to keep his position as king. While Macbeth is king, Malcolm, King Duncan's son, and Macduff, a nobleman, raise an army to overthrow Macbeth in England.

Zengeni gave a passionate performance of Lady Macbeth. She played the power-hungry and then guilt-plagued role with perfection. She also played the roles of Donalbain, Ross, Menteth, Fleance, the third witch, messengers and servants.

Donnelly gave an equally great performance of Macbeth. He played on Macbeth's guilt throughout the performance. He also took on the roles of a captain, an English doctor, an old man and a murderer.

Allam played Malcolm, a part she said she would not usually play.

"I'll likely never get to play Malcolm again," Allam said.

She also brought the first witch to stage with a creepy presence by using a shaking, haunting voice and jerky movement. She played Cathness, Wife of Macduff, the first witch and a murderer.

Ashcroft played the most comical performance in the play as the porter who told several knock-knock jokes towards the audience. He also played Banquo, Lennox, Seyward, son of Macduff and a Scottish doctor.

Winter played a very emotional and moving Macduff, especially in the scene where he discovers that his wife and children have been slaughtered. Winter also played Duncan, Angus, the second witch and a murderer.

The plays performed by the Actors from the London Stage are known for using limited props and sets, but for Macbeth more props were used than for Hamlet the previous year. Decorated sashes differentiate between the captains and noblemen, and swords were also used during battle scenes.

According to Winter, the minimized setting and props aids in the performance.

"It simplifies it. There is not tricky business with your hands, and you're not doing anything other than concentrating on the person you're with and trying to communicate as clearly as you possibly can," Winters said.

The actors also used sound to signify scene transitions and emotional turmoil for certain characters. A bell created a metallic sound that grew during Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's soliloquies on murdering King Duncan.

The Actors of the London Stage have been brought to UTSA annually since 1988 by the UTSA Friends of Shakespeare.

Learn more about the UTSA Friends of Shakespeare by contacting the Department of English, Classics and Philosophy at 458-5358.

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