Macbeth
Great Lakes Theater Festival - Hanna Theatre
Reviewed by Kelly Ferjutz
Wow! This isn't your Grandma's Hanna Theatre any more, but she'd love it, just the same. As you will, too, whenever you choose to visit a production by the Great Lakes Theater Festival. You have such an opportunity right now as the company has just opened the new Hanna and their new season with Shakespeare's most dramatic play - Macbeth. It is, in a word-stupendous! 
Festival favorite Dougfred Miller stars as the title character in the Great Lakes Theater Festival production of William Shakespeare's towering tragedy "Macbeth"
It's also not your Grandpa's version of the Scottish play, either. This one ventures into Asian as well as Medieval sensibilities, being also stylized and noisy! It is not, however, for even one nano-second, boring or too loud. No, it's just noisy. You can't have lots of warfare and fighting-with real steel swords-and a pair of well-muscled drummers (Seth Asa Sengel and Matthew Webb) right there on stage without noise. It all makes the battle scenes the more realistic. As well as a large drum, each drummer also has a huge shield-like piece of metal beside him, to use as cymbal or other sound effect. Sengel also played flute at various times. It's fascinating theater. 
The new stage at the Hanna is also a marvel. It's a thrust stage, thrusting itself right out into the audience, with an elevator in the center that raises or lowers the floor, sometimes in segments. The renovation to the theatre has provided much better seating, too, or at least more leg room! The seats are configured differently, but the two historic boxes remain, as does at least a part of the balcony, which has had a few boxes added to it. Along the rear sides of the main floor are other special seating innovations, for a total of seven types of seating/ticketing available for your enjoyment and convenience. There is liquid refreshment available, both before the show and during intermission, and this oasis is also within the theater space itself! 
Beware Macduff (David Anthony Smith, left). Actor Phil Carroll, the unsuspecting future king Malcolm, advises Macbeth's slayer
Another innovation is the expanded 'Enhance your Experience' social options: Salon Thursdays, Happy Hour Fridays, Night Cap Saturdays and Ice Cream Social Sundays. Full details may be found at the web-site: www.greatlakestheater.org or by calling 216.241.6000. If you love theater, you owe it to yourself to explore the new Hanna! 
Laura Perrotta and Dougfred Miller star as
Lady Macbeth and Macbeth
Anyone who loves theater should also avail themselves of this Macbeth. Your interest will be caught and held from the opening moments right through the stormy ending. Director Charles Fee has pulled out all the stops to make this an unforgettable theatrical experience, and he succeeds big-time. Cleveland audiences also reap the benefit of this play having been staged last month in Boise, Idaho, the theatrical sister of Great Lakes. Nearly all the same actors perform in each city, which adds a terrific sense of company. 
'Boil, boil, toil and trouble,' chants Festival actor Laura Welsh Berg as one of the famous witches to open the second act of Macbeth
The scenic design by Gage Williams is minimal, but very effective, being mostly white walls with black angular uprights here and there, somewhat reminiscent of tree branches. There is a long platform across the stage proper, and steps everywhere. Black is also the main color of the costumes, along with red highlights, and of course, the ever present red silk strips representing blood. Lots of blood! Star Moxley's costumes for the warriors lean heavily on Medieval armor by way of ancient Japan, influenced a bit by Star Wars. They seemed extremely appropriate, however. Lady Macbeth (Laura Perrotta) is dashing in brilliant red or pure white swirling around her, as she floats or flies up the stairs rushing here or there. 
Laura Perrotta stars as Lady Macbeth
Lighting designer Rick Martin must have had the time of his life with all the lights at his disposal. The ceiling is hardly visible for all of them, but he was judicious in their use, creating the darkness so necessary for Macbeth and his minions. Sound design by Peter John Still added to the ambiance. Fight choreographer Ken Merckx created breath-taking and acrobatic sword-play that seemed almost as natural to the warriors as breathing. 
Anyone who thinks acting isn't work needs to see this production to have his thinking readjusted. Stage manager Andrea Sitler kept this shortest of Shakespeare's tragedies moving briskly throughout.
Even though the play is mostly about Macbeth and Dougfred Miller brings him to vivid life as a complex man who both wants and fears power, it is the three weird sisters who may well remain more strongly in your memory as you leave the theater. Here is where the 'stylized' component comes in. 
Weird Sisters of Macbeth - Cathy Prince, Laura Welsh Berg and Sara M. Bruner
Hooded and garbed all in black, with great swirling capes and baggy pants, they have poles adding length to their arms, and creating fearsome wing-like appendages. Sara M. Bruner, Laura Welsh Berg and Cathy Prince are on stage more frequently in this production than the playwright imagined them, but it works well. They are ghoulish, menacing and protective, sometimes all at the same time.Aled Davies is the dignified Duncan, King of Scotland, who is, unfortunately, not long for this world, once he ventures into Macbeth's world. 
Macbeth and Banquo
Dougfred Miller and Lynn Robert Berg
Lynn Robert Berg is effective as Banquo, while David Anthony Smith is heart-rending as the bereaved Macduff. Young Dylan White is especially note-worthy as Macduff's son. Dudley Swetland is the bumptious porter. 
Present and future kings collide
Dougfred Miller (Macbeth, left), Aled Davies (King Duncan, right) and Phil Carroll (Malcolm, back right)
It's a large cast, with many performers in dual roles, and all are superbly performed.
You'll be unhappy with yourself if you don't go see this Macbeth. It runs in repertory with the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine Into the Woods, directed by Victoria Bussert, through November 8, 2008. Opening night for this musical is October 8. Subscriptions for the season are still available at 216.241.6000 or www.greatlakestheater.org Photos bt Roger Mastroianni
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