Macbeth at Classic Stage Company

Macbeth is a great guy. He’s a fearless warrior. He’s a loving husband. He’s loyal to the crown. He’s loved by the king and most everyone else in his life.

It seems odd to say that he’s a likable guy, but he is. Classic Stage Company’s production of Macbeth stars Corey Stoll in the title role and he is charismatic as heck.

Macbeth is a complicated character, but it is easy to play him one note. This production does not do that making sure to differentiate Macbeth before and after the witches’ visions which he initially is appalled by.

The visions start happening as predicted and Macbeth is soon filled with a hunger for power.

Lady Macbeth needs to push her husband though into actually murdering the king Duncan (Mary Beth Peil). Duncan trusts Macbeth fully and is staying at his residence when the murder occurs.

Despite any initial reservations Macbeth is eager for the visions to become reality. Lady Macbeth (played by Stoll’s actual wife Nadia Bowers) must get the action going at first, but soon Macbeth is making the decisions on his own. These decisions bring about major consequences.

Soon Macbeth is no longer a great guy, but a cold hearted man. He had a great friend in Banquo (Erik Lochtefeld), but when Banquo is murdered, Macbeth feels no remorse.

Stoll navigates Macbeth’s changes smoothly. His rise to power is only more awful as we saw a glimpse of the man he once was.

The technical aspects are all simple. The main set piece consists of the throne upstage and two benches placed as needed. The characters wear all black with plaid shawls to distinguish who’s who as most of the cast plays more than one character.

Most of the murders are committed off stage, but a few are within the view of the audience. The lights are also sparse, which adds to the mystery of the murders. Everything is simple and for the most part effective.

Macbeth is aware that his doom is foretold. He chooses to ignore that. He becomes so consumed with power that he believes he is unstoppable.

Lady Macbeth starts out seemingly cold, but she ends up regretting their actions. Macbeth has the opposite change.

Macbeth is incredibly complex and this is one of the first times I’ve seen it portrayed as such. It was wonderful to watch.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Lyric Theatre 🎭

Time creates the main problems in “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”. A year and seven months after it premiered on Broadway at the Lyric Theatre, I finally got to see Harry Potter’s adventure continue thanks to a Halloween sale.

J.K. Rowling created the characters of course, and provided her insight into the creation of this play. Somehow time manages to bend on stage as five hours fly by quickly in the audience seat.

Written by Jack Thorne and directed by John Tiffany, the play explores what happens when time is messed with and how leaving the past alone is best, even if we do wish we could change things. The smallest change in the past causes major and often times unwanted  changes in the future.

Like many fans I had issues with the script after reading it (though I never hated it), but all I can say is give it a chance because being physically in the theatre makes everything fall into place. You are also witnessing true magic as the technical aspects are done flawlessly.

The show definitely sets a high standard for any other adaptations with huge fan bases. Heck, it sets a high standard for what can and can’t possibly be achieved on stage.

Tons of money was spent on this production including renovating an entire theatre just to bring this production to life and it definitely paid off. This show is the most impressive thing I have ever seen on stage technically.

The set is simple though, allowing the ensemble to seamlessly move from time and place seamlessly. I’m not exactly sure how big the cast is, but they all work together to bring the world to life from scene transitions to time transitions and everything in between.

As mentioned the entire theatre was renovated for this production so as soon as you enter, you can’t help feeling excited as patronuses are painted on the wall and the sconces are griffins. The set is visible the moment you enter the auditorium you see light shining on stage coming from the clock that will play the most important part.

The play opens at king’s cross station so trunks and suitcases are visible in the shadows of the clock. Again, the set is simplistic. Hogwarts consists mainly of staircases that slide in and out as needed and the rest of the locations are mainly implied with doors and desks.

The locations truly don’t need anything more than that. There are also smaller clocks in the arches of the proscenium that aid the big clock on set move time along.

The scenes flow seamlessly one into another with the swishes of cloaks and wands. We begin immediately during the epilogue of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”.

Harry Potter (James Snyder) and Ginny Potter (Diane Davis) are seeing their sons off to Hogwarts. Joining them are of course, Hermione Granger (Jenny Jules) and Ron Weasley (Matt Mueller).

The younger of the Potter boys Albus (Nicholas Podany) will be starting his first year at Hogwarts. His cousin Rose Granger-Weasley (Nadia Brown) is also set to start her first year.

Draco Malfoy (Jonno Roberts) is also there to send his son Scorpius (Bubba Weiler, who is absolutely endearing!) to Hogwarts for the first time. Albus and Scorpius become unlikely friends and thus begins their dangerous adventure.

They manage to befriend an older woman by the name of Delphi Diggory (Sara Farb) who also joins them on their adventure. All the while Albus and Harry try to work on their relationship which became incredibly strained once Albus started Hogwarts.

J.K. Rowling is able to create believable characters and has them face relatable problems just in a magical world. The trend continues here.

I can’t say too much more as I need to #keepthesecrets as does anyone who watches the play or reads the script. I know fans who have only read the script have strong opinions about it, but I think as fans we are protective of our fandom and in this case we didn’t need to be (I’m looking at you Fantastic Beasts franchise).

Being surrounded by fans was also cool as certain character reveals drew audible gasps from the audience. The plot can be confusing to non fans, but I believe it is entertaining enough to keep them invested.

The cast members move in sync a lot of the time to indicate a change and it works beautifully. We are transported to alternate realities as time is messed with and the set and lighting matches everything perfectly. By far the coolest aspect was the appearance of (SPOILER!!!!) the dementors.

The entire main cast is fantastic! The ensemble also delivers memorable performances including those who play other well known characters.

The main plot revolves around time. The main conflict comes from parents and children and their relationships.

The past can’t be changed, but time can help heal the future. It also helps to see your parents as something other than people you should rebel against.

I went in with reservations though I knew I always wanted to watch this show eventually. My opinions completely changed upon watching this. It’s not perfect, but it is still the magical world we know and love though it may not seem like it upon first read.