Mt. Blue Theatre Company performing Macbeth May 5, 6 & 7

FARMINGTON – Mt. Blue Theatre Company is performing William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth 7 p.m. on May 5, 6, and 7 in Mt Blue’s Bjorn Auditorium. Tickets are $3 for students and children and $4.50 for adults.

If you’re a bit rusty on the plot, the play centers on Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis (Julian Thomson) just after a particularly victorious battle in the latest war. He and his buddy Banquo (Emma Haywood) are accosted by the three Weird Sisters (Natalie Wood, MacKenzie Wells, and Audrey Keith) who tempt Macbeth to do foul deeds in order to achieve greatness.

While kind-hearted Macbeth is able to quell his desire for power, his wife (Nicole Pires) influences his ambition, and a chain of murderous undertakings ensues. Other major roles are played by Swan Al requem, Josh Winters, Eugene Armstrong, Drew Crockett, Julia Lowell, Tommy Eng, and Elysia Roorbach.

Also known as “The Scottish Play” because of the bad luck associated with productions throughout the ages, Macbeth is Shakespeare’s attempt to butter up King James by illustrating just what can happen when someone tries to usurp the throne. He also uses many supernatural references in an effort to play up to the king who had a particular interest in the occult.

Tackling Shakespeare has been a challenge that the Mt. Blue Theater Company has taken on with delight, and they’ve been rehearsing the show since January. Now if you’re concerned that you won’t get the Shakespearean language, never fear. The students at Mt Blue study this play in 10th grade and their love and enthusiasm for the show will definitely facilitate the audience’s understanding of it.

There will be plot summaries available at the door, but you really won’t need them. Besides there are enough fight scenes, ghosts, bagpipes, and famous lines to make this show accessible to all. That said, it is probably best suited for a more sophisticated crowd. There will be “bloody murders!”

A number of people have helped director, Deborah Muise, to make this show a success. Melody Bickford, Shakespeare teacher at Mt. Blue High School, has helped the cast work through pronunciations and meanings. Dan Ryder and Mike Reid, both teachers too, have helped out immeasurably with the set, designing and building some key pieces. And Chris Davis and his digital media program have again successfully put theater and film together.

Don’t miss this chance to see your local high school theater company perform in one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies.