It is the tragedy so feared that every play lover in a theater knows to call it âThe Scottish Playâ â and it has come to Pacific Lutheran University. âMacbethâ is one of William Shakespeareâs most famous works, and next week the School of Arts and Communication will premiere PLUâs take on the tragedy.
Senior Kraig Partridge stars as the titular Macbeth, a Scottish lord who becomes obsessed with a prophecy foreseeing his kingship and chooses murder as his route to the throne. Lady Macbeth, portrayed by junior Amelia Heath, is the ruthless and cunning wife of Macbeth who urges him on to power.
The stage manager for âMacbeth,â senior Mariah Madden, said the actors are putting a lot of hard work into the play and are getting a lot of emotional pull out of it.
âI think people will be impressed with the skill weâre putting into it,â Madden said. âI think theyâll be really moved by the story.â
Madden said she hopes the play will get people interested in Shakespeare.
âIt [âMacbethâ] holds a lot more power when you actually see a really good production of it,â Madden said, âand I think what weâre doing is some really good work.â
Madden also spoke about the curse of âMacbeth.â
âThe idea is that you say âMacbethâ on stage in the theater and things go horribly, horribly wrong,â Madden said. She said she was in high school when she dared to speak the name in the theater. Afterward, a light fixture fell and then all the microphones went out.
So far, PLUâs production has only suffered a few nosebleeds, because everyone is careful. If someone says it while performing âMacbeth,â Madden said, it isnât as bad.
While she said some are superstitious about christening the Karen Hille Phillips Center for the Performing Arts with âMacbeth,â but everyone is grateful for the new space.
Madden commended Lori Lee Wallace, an assistant professor of theater, for bringing out the best in the actors.
âI think sheâs really tapping into something that I donât think these students knew they had in them,â Madden said. âShe has a way of pushing them to do everything they absolutely can thatâs special.â
Thursday at 7:30 p.m. there is a free student preview of the play. Friday and Saturdayâs performances begin at 7:30 p.m. The showâs final performances are May 16 and May 17 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. May 18. Each performance will take place in the Karen Hille Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
***For more information, visit the Facebook page âMacbeth.â Tickets are available at the Campus Concierge in the AUC or by calling 253-535-7411. Tickets will be available at the door for cash only.***