When the Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company returns to the tiny Dog Story Theater for their latest production,
Macbeth, first-time attendees will be shocked when they realize the 30 roles in the play have been assigned to PCSC's small, 11-member cast. Another big surprise is the absence of a director in the playbill.
This isn't your parents'
Macbeth. Heck, it's not even your great-great-great grandparents'
Macbeth. Pigeon Creek of Grand Haven has enjoyed a long-standing credibility for their freeing interpretations of these often stiff productions, and their ability breathe new life into their adaptations of William Shakespeare's tragedies and comedies.
During rehearsal, actors took turns dashing from the stage to the director’s chair to take notes on what was working (or not working). The result is not just a full collaborative process in the blocking of the production, but offstage members often fill the roles of musicians and foley artists -- sometimes as they hastily change costumes.
The cast will also be decked out in Steampunk fashion. This fast-paced, modern style is exactly what Katherine Mayberry, executive director of PCSC, says makes their productions so popular with their growing Grand Rapids audience. Dog Story Theater, she adds, "is an ideal venue for actors to be in close contact with audience members," helping the actors achieve this mission of bringing the patrons along on the story's emotional journey.
In the lead role of Macbeth is GVSU graduate and London-trained actor Scott Lange, who is playing this role for the very first time after a long list of Shakespearean credits.
Lange cites three really challenging aspects of the role, the first being his need to understand and unlock the rhythm of the language that Macbeth uses to communicate. Secondly, the actor wanted to stretch beyond his own personal experiences and mannerisms and explore the depths of who Macbeth was and how he would act on such an intimate stage. The result is a more thoughtful and up-close interpretation than others might have unearthed for a larger venue.
Lastly, given the size of the audience and its proximity, Lange needed to convey real power because Macbeth is a military man. Lange had to work on his stance and movements to ensure it was believable that he could deliver on the acts required in this script.
"We (at PCSC) believe that Shakespeare is meant to be performed with direct audience contact. So when I deliver 'is this a dagger before me?' I'm not speaking to myself, but rather asking everyone else around me 'do you see what I see?' It helps pull the audience into the world of the play," Lange says.
And when theatre is this good, you are sure to be held on the edge of your seat until the proverbial curtain falls on the final act. You will not want to miss this production, which is a key part of the
theatrical revolution happening in our region.
Admission: $14 for adults / $7 for students and seniors