Cole VanDerVelden

Bellerose Composite High School

A procession of haunting figures twirl in from either side of the stage, chanting over eerie music. The witches shimmer ghoulishly under the red lights, their spidery limbs splaying in all directions, creating an impressive first image for the audience of McNally Masque's production of Absolute Macbeth.

Adapted from William Shakespeare's Macbeth, Absolute Macbeth is Richard Engling's spin on the timeless classic. The play follows Macbeth in his struggle to come to grips with his murderous habits. Macbeth tries to find solace in his power and position, but instead finds grief and hardship as he is haunted by the people he has murdered and a wicked group of witches. Tragedy after tragedy follows Macbeth as his wife, his friends, and finally he himself fade out of existence.

McNally Masque's production found consistency and quality in its creativity and interpretation of difficult themes. The theme of Macbeth being lured into a witch's spider web was one in particular that established a strong connection between the reality of the main character's dilemma and the distress of his hallucinations. Well thought out visual portrayals and an attention to detail allowed the presentation to flow from scene to scene.

The lead actors in McNally's production held on to the fundamentals of Macbeth while delivering some strong performances. Lady Macbeth, played by Julie Pepin, stood out among many characters for her spot-on performance and the emotion she gave throughout the play. Within a cast comprised mostly of Grade 10 leads, she did an outstanding job.

The supporting actors and ensembles provided the entertainment and emotion that was intended in Absolute Macbeth. The witches in this production provided a stunning visual of the temptress archetype; they appealed to Macbeth's better nature and used it for their own evil intentions.

Not only did the witches give strong performances, but they also stood out as having the most stunning costumes in the production. Credit is due to Tilda Ruvinga, Kristie Burroughs and the sewing team for creating these dazzling costumes. Another important aspect of the production was the composition and performance of the music by Beth Sandle. Her eerie music accompanied many of the scene changes and was a defining feature of the play.

Absolute Macbeth was a great effort on behalf of McNally Masque, considering the technical difficulty of the play. It was entertaining, and great things can be expected from this company in the future as they gain more experience and expand their ability to produce large shows. This production held strong to the fundamentals of the Shakespearean masterpiece and was a creative take on the original. The best way to describe it would be to simply say that it was Absolute Macbeth.

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Claire MacMaster

Archbishop MacDonald High School

(Published in abbreviated form in The Journal)

A host of spidery witches twirled mystically into the theatre before a crimson-lit web and accompanied by ominous student-composed music, preparing the mood for murder. Homicide, treason and madness besieged the stage last Wednesday as MacNally High School performed Absolute Macbeth.

This version of William Shakespeare's classic tragedy, modified by Richard Engling, amplifies the role of the witches, who present themselves not only as sorceresses, but as pages and lords as well. The tragedy follows the rise and fall of an ambitious nobleman, Macbeth, who murders the king of Scotland, and in turn thrusts the universe into chaos. His megalomania is spurred by both his wife, Lady Macbeth, and the devil, embodied by the infamous witches. This is the first time Engling's version has been produced by a school in North America.

The production's heroic villain, Macbeth, was played by Alan Holod, who courageously recited his substantial soliloquies. Julie Pepin, as co-lead, had a commanding stage presence and portrayed the hysterical Lady MacBeth very convincingly.

The other members of the company contributed nicely to the feeling of evil present throughout, especially the witches. Their performance at the witches' party was made chilling by their chanting and the lighting, orchestrated by Eddie Sauers and Harrison Thurgood. However, the witches' role in the movement of set pieces and escorting of deceased characters off the stage through dance was inconsistent; they sometimes lost their pace. This also occurred with some of the other cast members, who would fly for a moment but then falter with a monotonous speech. Even so, Zach Jansen as Macduff, and his counterpart, Sierra Wallace as Lady Macduff, delivered their lines authoritatively, even including occasional wit.

A well-constructed spider web was the main focal point of the set; a veil in front allowed for illusions to be executed cleverly, such as the appearance of apparitions and accusing ghosts. The remainder of the set was fairly minimalistic. Costumes consisted of simple tunics and dresses embellished with tartan sashes, discreetly symbolic of Scotland. These contrasted agreeably with the whimsicality of the witches' glittery attire.

The members of the McNally company of Absolute MacBeth put forth an impressive effort to memorize their highly convoluted lines in a period of less than three months. The performance was consequently unrefined and frequently lacked fluidity when switching between scenes or to other characters. However, this did not restrain the pace of the performance.

Absolute Macbeth was able to give the 17th century play a more modern context. Macbeth's vaulting ambition pertains to the corruptibility of today's politicians; the fair is foul, foul is fair kind of paradox that signifies the sort of moral ambiguity that both Macbeth and modern leaders experience. All hail, Macbeth!

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Dmytro Muzychenko

Ross Sheppard High School

(Abbreviated version published in The Journal)

Witches in striking black costumes twirl across the stage, an ominous red glow illuminating the fog that seeps through a giant spider web. So begins McNally High School's recent production of Absolute Macbeth, a story of ambition, power and corruption based on Shakespeare's well-known tragedy, adapted by Richard Engling, and in turn, by McNally High School.

After hearing the prophecies of three witches who proclaim him the future king, the idea of taking over the throne of Scotland takes root in Macbeth’s mind. His ambition to have more power corrupts him and his morals. This is fuelled by his wife, Lady Macbeth, who pressures him into killing the enemies who threaten the throne that is rightfully his.

Absolute Macbeth was anchored by the persistence of the ensemble to succeed. Shakespeare's plays aren't easy to perform, but the cast did not give up in their attempt to give their best rendition of the play.

Adam Holod, as Macbeth, stood out with some of the passionate monologues in which he contemplates his morals. It was Julie Pepin, however, acting as the sly Lady Macbeth, who really stole the show. Her stunning performance stood out for her vivid facial expressions and body language, as well as the convincing inflection and confidence behind her words.

Macduff, the antagonist played by Zach Jansen, brought excitement and life into the play with a portrayal that was characterized by the emotion he expressed with his strong voice. Though a few members of the cast concentrated their efforts on recalling their lines, and not conveying them, it was clear that the ensemble was trying their best to make the production enjoyable for the audience.

Among the many strong technical aspects of the play were the stunning costumes, designed by McNally's sewing group, which enhanced each cast member’s appearance onstage. Although the play did not turn to music very often, the main theme, composed and performed by McNally's student, Beth Sandle, was impressive and heightened the atmosphere. Of particular note was the lighting, which, although it could’ve been a more prominent and integral part of the show, was always precise, making scene changes smooth and creating a visually appealing play.

Absolute Macbeth provided a challenge for McNally High School that the cast clearly took to with admirable effort that deserves more than a few rounds of applause.

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Lauren Chalaturnyk

Paul Kane High School

(Abbreviated version published in The Journal)

Darkness is cast across a blackened stage. An ominous spider web has been spun in the background and is lit a devilish red. A band of witches begins to gather, uttering an eerie theme, “fair is foul and foul is fair,” thus beginning McNally High School’s production of Absolute Macbeth.

Based on Shakespeare’s tragedy about a vicious Scottish king, Absolute Macbeth puts a more ritualistic spin on one of the Bard’s most tragic tales. Originally a publication by Richard Engling of the Polarity Theatre Company, Absolute Macbeth follows the story of Macbeth (Adam Holod) and his wife, Lady Macbeth (Julie Pepin), as they plot against the most powerful rulers in Scotland to obtain the leadership of the monarchy. Along the way, Macbeth encounters supernatural beings and reaches a dangerous level of ambition that leads to his doom.

Given the demand placed on actors when performing Shakespeare, McNally High School’s cast managed to create an admirable show with unique twists. There were many refreshing changes from the usual structure of Shakespeare’s play, such as the increased importance of the witches. The cast, while a bit stiff physically, showed great determination when it came to delivering the Modern English in the production.

The complexity of Shakespeare’s leading characters couldn’t be more evident than in this play. Adam Holod, who played Macbeth, did a commendable job in portraying the tyrannical King of Scotland. His performance was believable, and his lines his were memorized. Julie Pepin’s performance as Lady Macbeth was outstanding. She was consistently in character and did an excellent job transitioning from manipulative to fragile as the play progressed.

In this version of Absolute Macbeth, it was the ensemble cast that held the play together. As a team they worked well, especially when the occasional line was missed. However, it was the cast of witches that was most enticing to watch. They worked well in unison sections, creating frightening yet whimsical moments that added nicely to Shakespeare’s already disturbing scenes.

The real change that was interesting to see was the technical simplicity used in this adapted work. The costumes (Tilda Ruvinga and Kristie Burroughs) were pleasing to the eye and the gowns used for the witches were particularily elegant, depicting an eerie supernatural quality. The spider web lit at the back of the stage was the most significant prop and it was beautifully crafted as a backdrop for the entire production. All together, the technical aspects of the production were well executed and esthetically pleasing.

Last week, McNally High School delivered a unique and innovative version of Absolute Macbeth that shed a different light on a classic tragedy. The cast was dedicated to pulling off a difficult story, and they maintained their composure well through any mistakes. All characters were genuine, and they proved that life really is “but a walking shadow.”