The Montana Actor's Theater production of Macbeth ran for three showings in Beaver Creek State Park over the weekend of August 25th through the 28th. The choice of venue and scale of the production made the show a sensational experience for both the audience and the actors. It was clear this show was going to be something special during the opening scenes, which recreated the battle that sets the tragic tale of Macbeth in motion. Sword fighting and horses galloping back and forth across the stage helped transport the events from modern day Montana back to medieval Scotland. The energetic use of horses throughout the showing prompted the director and crew to clear lanes of traffic around the audience and across the creek that bordered the area of the park where the show took place.
The show's artistic director, Mike Zook, described the unique production: "This is something that I don't know has ever been done before. I know of no other Shakespearean production in Montana that utilized real horses. We've incorporated so many people from our local area, we've actually got 40 different people that are involved in terms of the cast, and that doesn't even count the support crew. We've got teachers, professors, elementary students, middle school, high school students. We've got government employees, both County and Federal. We've got entrepreneurs, farmers and ranchers. It's a cross cut of the community. But they're all unified in this story that's as old as time. And it's something that we need to remember, the values that are taught and these are the warnings that are given such as Macbeth."
Doctor Val Guyant, who worked as the stage manager and several other roles (Mike described her as essentially the assistant director), described the staging of the production in the state park and using live animals as coming with more than a few challenges, including a quarter inch of rain with a thunderstorm opening night. In addition, creating backstage areas where actors can "wait in the wings" for their cues to take the stage can be challenging when there are no wings or backstage areas because the show is outside. The setting and weather may have been challenges, but both brought something extra to the showing. "Using the horses has actually caused some surprise fun effects. At one point last night, we had one of the horses, just as they were talking about mounting horses and going to war, one of the horses started neighing in the background. You can't plan that. So I mean, horses are pretty notoriously uncompromising about their acting." Val summed up the effect of using real horses in the show we'll when she explained: "Having the horses leads to a dynamic that I don't think that, until you see it, anybody really can understand."
Grant Olson, a Montana Actor's Theater veteran, gave a tremendous performance as Macbeth. In particular, his expert delivery of the "Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow" monologue was breathtaking. Grant attributes his delivery to the fact that he memorized the speech in junior high. "So that speech has been going on in my head since I was 14." He previously played Macduff in a high school production of the play. "I always wanted my shot at the Big Mac. Mike and I had been talking, I wanted to do it." This particular production drew him in, with its use of real horses, because, "There's so much horse imagery in this show. I'm a horse rider. I grew up with them. In fact, that's my horse, who I've had for 26 years. So she and I ride together. We've been wanting to do this with armor and horses. And we finally said, 'Okay, let's do it.'" He went on to describe the thought that went into the use of Macbeth's horse to symbolize his kingdom, which he releases in the closing moments as he recognizes that he will soon lose it all.
The entire cast performed well. In particular Jay Pyette, who played Banquo, stood out. Angela Murri, who played Lady Macbeth also shined in her role. The witches, as a group represented a unique take on the material and offered some interesting additions throughout the show. Val explained: "We played a lot with how we staged the witches. Ordinarily, the witches are only three people, and they're only in a couple of scenes. As you're watching, you'll notice that not only do we have more witches, but they're actively involved in ways that are, I think, fairly unique to our production." These unique stagings included the witches leading the ghost of Banquo onstage to haunt Macbeth, tempting the lead with a dagger as he prepares to assassinate the king, and drawing bits of wool from the characters during moments that would lead to Macbeth's death. Those bits of wool were added to the weaving of the character's death shroud.
As a member of the audience, I can attest that the horses added a great deal of excitement to the production. The weather also brought its own unique flavor. During the Saturday showing, the sky became increasingly overcast and the wind picked up and whipped through the site. The timing couldn't have been more ideal, as the weather darkening accompanied Lady Macbeth's descent into madness and accented the intensity to Macbeth's anxiety and terror. The wind tearing around the Weird Sisters as they brought ghosts to prophesy Macbeth's fall intensified the moment. The weather combined with the superb performances of the ghosts, witches, and Macbeth himself drew the audience to the edge of their seats and into scene. Perhaps my favorite moment in the scene took place when Reagan Dannen, the elementary school aged actress who played one of the witches, screeched her prophecy over the howling wind at Macbeth. The mix of exceptional acting, great costumes, and the weather threatening a
storm was authentic and intense, making it easy to lose yourself in the exceptional quality of the show. Grant Olson described interacting with the littlest of the witches onstage: "My reactions were always genuine to her, because I never knew what she was gonna bring. But she brought it and it was great. Great energy."
Many of those I spoke with described the production as a bit of a dream come true or a bucket list item. Val Guyant explained: "Staging Shakespeare anytime that you can get people to see it and just realize how much fun it can be, instead of the struggle of reading it in high school is always exciting to me because that whole Professor plus love of English literature thing. Having so many people out here for a big chunk of time ahead of time for the festival sort of things and kids being actively engaged with theater this way is really exciting. And for some of us, the the chance to do Macbeth has been a lifelong dream. So just getting to be part of it has also been really exciting."
The atmosphere around this Shakespeare in the Park production added a great deal to the feel of the production. Beyond just the outdoor setting, the Montana Actor's Theater arranged for medieval type games and activities for guests. I personally participated in the caber tossing activities (a Scottish sport where you throw telephone poles... no really!), to a plague doctor that handed the plague out to guests, various vendors, projects for children, a spot where you could buy crowns to wear during the show, and a set of stocks where you could have your picture taken lent a sort of renaissance fair type feel to the evening's entertainment. The feel was further enhanced by the choice to have the games and booths largely staffed by extras from the show and others dressed in period costumes.
I have enjoyed every Montana Actor's Theater production I have seen to date and eagerly anticipated last weekend's show. Without a doubt, the production far exceeded my expectations. The production values and performances made the tragedy of Macbeth an exhilarating, soulful experience. I urge you to seek out their future Shakespeare in the Park productions.
