The Scottish Play!
Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending a performance of MacBeth put on by the Sacramento Shakespeare Festival, more commonly known as Sacramento’s Shakespeare in the Park.
Right now the festival is putting on performances of Comedy of Errors as well as MacBeth and both shows are being staged at the open air theater in William Land Park. I attend the festival every year and try to see both shows, as there are always two. This year was an extra special treat as one of my close friends, Anne Marie Justman, is playing a part in MacBeth. She gets to yell a lot and wave around a staff as she is playing a soldier as well as the doctor. The show has been staged with a Japanese theme based on traditional Kabuki theater. One stunning example of this can be seen in the three weird sisters. The witches are wearing kimonos, masks and genuine Kabuki wigs. Shakespeare’s witches have always been a kind of chorus, but now that effect is amplified by the Japanese Kabuki theme. It was terrific!
Brian Rivera, the fellow playing MacBeth, was truly amazing. I’ve seen a number of MacBeth shows over the years, but his performance of the lead role left all of the others in the dust. His face is wonderfully expressive and he portrays MacBeth’s raging emotions with great emotional sincerity. It is a highly nuanced performance and well worth seeing.
Go early if you want to spread a blanket out on the green before the stage. Otherwise you’ll be sitting on the benches and that’s less fun. I recommend arriving at 5:30 at the latest. The gates open roughly around 6:30 and the play begins at 8:00. Though some minor snacks are available at the Hospitality Booth, you should bring a meal or at least snacks and drinks for your party. Alcohol is allowed but you’d better not be rowdy during the show! If you intend to sit on the green, don’t take chairs as they block other people’s view and are theoretically not allowed in the theater. The weather may be hot, but bring a blanket or coat to wrap up in as it gets very cold once darkness falls and there is an especially cool breeze off of the nearby duck pond.
I intend to see Comedy of Errors some time in the next two or three weeks and will give you a report on that as well.
Tickets for either show cost $15.00. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online here. However, if you want to attend closing night you’d better but tickets ahead of time. The remaining show dates are:
MacBeth – July 27, Aug. 2, 4
Comedy of Errors – July 26, 29, Aug. 3, 5
P.S. The curse of The Scottish Play continues. It took me five tries to get this post to work!
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