Note: Centenary Theatre Program has extended the run of Mac Beth to include two additional shows: Friday, March 10th and Saturday, March 11th at 7:30pm.
If you appreicate live theater, Centenary Theatre Program’s production of MAC BETH, a recontextualization of the Shakespearean classic, is an absolute must-see.
Director Charity Schubert, a former Shreveporter returning by way of New York City, skillfully executes Erica Schmidt’s adaptation in which the all-woman cast recount the horrid tale from an ever-maturing perspective.
The show opens with three girls gathering in an abandoned urban lot — the kind edgy youth might find after school as a secret hangout — and one of them toting a copy of the script of “Macbeth.” The trio transforms into the weird sisters and the Scottish play gets underway. Their classmates arrive, each filling a new (and multiple) roles.
As the story progresses, it is apparent that this is not just a rendition of Macbeth, but also a tale of the transformation of these schoolgirls into women — conjuring schoolyard beef, puberty, and the end of innocence, all culminating with a literal deluge of guilt, pain, and greed.
The cast is excellent, the set and lighting design by Don Hooper is engaging, the sound and music design by Jasmine Blache are motivated and transportive. Standout performances include Sabrina Scott as Macbeth, Channing Hall as Lady Macbeth, and a late-blooming show of force by Hailey Chiasson as Macduff.
Those in attendance were lucky to see such an all-encompassing show, and you can be just as lucky if you catch one of the remaining performances:
Saturday, March 4th at 7:30pm
Sunday, March 5th at 2:00pm
Tickets for MAC BETH are $20 for adults, $15 for senior/military patrons, and $10 for students with ID. Tickets are free for Centenary College students, faculty, and staff. Visit centenary.edu/mlptickets for more information and to purchase tickets.