Shakespeare

Everyone has heard a little Shakespeare at one time or another. This was an ever-growing thought that ran through my head, all the way up to the start of the play. Once seated all I could think of was how much I wanted to be somewhere else. However, once the show reached the midway point of the first act, my attention and interest were magnetized towards the stage. In fact, by the middle of the show it took all of my “Will Power” just to say yes to a short cigarette break with my friends. I did not want to leave the auditorium. Simply viewing a recreation of Shakespeare’s best at USM was enough to broaden my literary/artistic perception.

After observing the presentation of some of Shakespeare’s best-known works, the images of the plays remain vivid. The stage was arranged with what appeared to be a small shanty, old electric lights, and a seemingly picnic area. This sharply contrasted the setting of the Romeo and Juliet tragedy. However, the costumes worn did have a Shakespearian look to them. This worked to the actor’s advantage because there were few costume changes between the separate plays. The pantaloons were distinctly grey, which, out of all the colors of the rainbow, display the least number of emotions.

Macbeth was a classic portrayal, with the same lines regularly recited by any actor wishing to achieve a recognizable display of the tragedy. The witches were extremely distinguishable compared to the rest of the cast of this work. Lady Macbeth was glowing on stage, as I observed. A well-choreographed make-up crew was surely responsible for the extravagant, yet precariously feminine Lady Macbeth.

The Julius Caesar cast did not fail to impress me in their interpretation of the betrayal of the great Roman leader. This is my personal favorite work of Shakespeare because of the abundant amount of treachery by the traitor throughout the work. Jealousy works well with audiences because the audience is aware of all the variables that contribute to the “back stabbing” decision made by Brutus. By having the conspirators up front, on stage, the audience immediately understands the back workings of the assassination plot. This, all the more, adds anticipation for the climatic up-comings.

Upon the start of Hamlet, the events are made so transparent by the cast of what is to be said next, that most of the crowd was mouthing the words along with the cast. The “To be or not to be…” epilogue was, of course, the focus. The cast performed an excellent rendition of what might be the best-known lines of Shakespeare throughout his literary timeline. Although the work could have delivered an even more fulfilling impression with more work on the scenery and costumes,