sydney

‘Come You Spirits’ Theatre Incorporated’s production of Macbeth is being performed in the intimate and engaging space of The Lounge at the Concourse Theatre Chatswood. It creates the perfect atmosphere for delivering a truly personable Shakespearean performance.

There was a lovely welcoming message from the cast and they also concluded the performance with a heartfelt message of thanks. Although the actors were not amplified, they were heard clearly due to their perfected voice projection and the nature of the small space. I really appreciated the clarity, articulation and dramatic delivery, which ensured a well-absorbed performance. Shakespeare can often be difficult to digest, as the script is comprehensive, and sometimes players tend to rush through the complex dialogue. However, this was definitely not the case during this presentation. It was engaging and delivered in a timely, dramatic fashion, which had me – and certainly the entire audience- enthralled. The entire cast of six was of the highest professional caliber and all gave a spectacular performance.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth were played by Charles Mayer and Jo Bloom, who portrayed a natural connection and chemistry on stage. They both brought great emotional depth in their leading role characters and delivered a solid convincing performance.

Charles Mayer displayed the overly ambitious character of Macbeth with great conviction throughout. He showed passion, ambition and then later portrayed the tortured, battered soul of his character.

Jo Bloom delivered the greatest of sincerity to the ever-goading, ruthlessly ambitious, Lady Macbeth. Jo also doubled as the Second Witch and skillfully transitioned between the two contrasting characters.

Banquo was played by David Halgren, who gave a haunting and eerie rendition of his character. He also showed great skill in his theatrical movements leaping on and off the table and in his ghost-like manoeuvres.

Ciaran O’Riordan’s performance as Macduff was heartfelt and convincing. He portrayed Macduff with all the passion the character deserves.

I really appreciated the well-projected clarity and dramatic delivery of Willa King’s portrayal of the First Witch. Her
resonating, clear vocal tones were deeply impactful.

The homage to our traditional Aboriginal custodians was beautifully and seamlessly interwoven throughout the performance. Ella Havelka, who beautifully portrays the Third Witch, is an alumnus dancer with the Bangarra Dance Theatre and honoured her heritage as a member of the Wiradjuri people by flawlessly incorporating traditional influenced movements in her portrayal as the Third Witch.

The dimly lit setting created an eerie atmosphere for the supernatural elements, which constantly wove throughout the play.
I was particularly taken with the regal, gothic themed dining room staging, complete with lit candelabras, tablecloths and goblets. Also, the staging for the infamous “Double, double, toil and trouble” witches scene, presented with a smoking cauldron and appropriate props was equally striking.

The costuming was very impressive and gave authenticity to the period. It was brought to my attention that the costuming, sets and props were all predominantly sourced second-hand. This is a credit to the Art Director Letitia Hodgkinson who passionately sourced a suitable array of fabrics and materials. Her actions are most admirable and show a great commitment to environmental sustainability, while maintaining a high standard of creativity and artistic sense.

The musical compositions by Brandon Read, music composer and producer, elevated and intensified the performance. The recorded soundtrack was impactful and creatively accompanied the dramatic themes, providing a more full bodied performance.

I would also like to mention the fantastic work of the Lighting technician Adam Applebaum. He made splendid use of spotlights and coloured lighting to enhance themes and poignant moments as well as amplify the eerie scenes.

‘Come You Spirits’’ presentation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth is brilliant and captivating. Their rendition is condensed into a fast paced 90 minute performance centered around six main characters. A highly enjoyable performance with a stupendous professional cast.

To book tickets to Macbeth , please visit https://www.theconcourse.com.au/event/macbeth-in-the-lounge/.

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