This review was written by a TeenTix KC teen who is learning about arts journalism through the Press Corps, which provides teens with training and tools to respond to their arts experiences. TeenTix KC seeks to engage teens in the arts and amplify their voices. This may be the first time this teen has publicly expressed their opinion about an arts experience. Thank you for reading and supporting this teen’s development as an arts journalist.
I went to see Macbeth at the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival having no past reference to the storyline other than the fact that it was a tragedy and that there were witches. When I think of Shakespeare’s tragedies I think of Romeo and Juliet or some of his other more somber works. This adaptation of Macbeth performed by the HASF (Heart of America Shakespeare Festival) was full of many bloody battles and lengthy monologues but had an undertone of witchy violence. This may very well be my favorite tragedy I have seen so far.
Set mainly in Scotland, the tale follows a man named Macbeth (played by Jacques Roy). He meets three witches in a forest who tell him he shall be the king of Scotland and that no man of woman born can kill him. Growing increasingly sure that no harm can come to him, he murders the king with the encouragement and help of his wife, Lady Macbeth (Cinnamon Schultz) and blames it on Prince Malcolm (Phillip Shinn) who flees to England. Macbeth then is made king but grows fearful he will be discovered or unseated from his throne by his best friend and has him murdered as well. Driven mad with guilt the queen dies as the prince and a man named Macduff (Matthew Williamson), who has had his family killed by the king, gather an army and march back to Scotland. Thinking he cannot be killed by any of woman born, Macbeth leaps into battle only to learn that the witches had been tricking him as Macduff (who was untimely ripped from his mother’s womb), kills him in revenge and Malcom is crowned as the rightful king
The set was perfectly executed. With any show, making a set work for countless scenes in different settings is hard but to make it withstand the battering of Kansas City’s summer storms is nearly impossible. For 34 years in a row the HASF has accomplished this feat perfectly. This year’s set has the perfect mix of witchy woods and old Scottish castle. With many well-sculpted elements and spooky turrets, the complicated design works with the park around it, using trees as background and the night to add ambiance. Set Designer Kelli Harrod did a wonderful job. Hearing the Witches shriek and swords clash while under the stars just brings you into the performance.
The three Witches (Played by Chioma Anyanwu, Elise Poehling and Elaine Clifford) were thrilling. With their creepy unhuman movements and screeching vocals, their portrayal of the Witches showed us exactly how they manipulated Macbeth’s tragedy. Co-Movement Choreographers Tracy Terstriep-Herber and Michael Blake made the Witches animalistic and unearthly in their steps and leaps.
Jacques Roy did an amazing job making us hate him. With the perfect amount of snideness, guilt, and self-pitying monologues he captures the essence of the tyrannical Macbeth very well. I have seen him in a few of the HASF shows but this was by far his best role.
Every performance I have seen at the HASF has been so well thought out and planned. This non-profit Festival is completely free and the only thing you need to bring is a blanket to sit on. Running through July 5 you can still see the show next week! I loved this production and hope you will too.
Reviewed by TeenTix KC Press Corps member Brighton Brame
TeenTix KC is a KC Studio initiative building a brighter future for our region by empowering young people to take an active role in shaping their arts community as audience members, critics, influencers, advocates, patrons and leaders. Any 13-19 year-old can become a TeenTix KC member by downloading a free pass which enables them to buy $5 tickets to participating arts venues across metro KC. Teens are encouraged to become critics and influencers by writing reviews and creating reels about the arts they experience using their TeenTix KC passes.
