He is known to be one of the greatest writers of all time, and his works have been thoroughly analyzed countless times.
He is the man who made playwriting somehow a math equation and a music melody. His works are so powerful that they are feared in theater halls; saying the name of the Scottish play would curse your production.
Yet, “Macbeth” graces the Wofford stage, superstitions thrown to the wind. Its production has been without hiccups; however, nothing has been caused by Banquo’s ghost or the witches’ mischief.
Rather, T. R. Garrison Professor of Humanities and Chair of Theatre Mark Ferguson’s rendition of “Macbeth” has blown a fresh breath of life into an already thrilling piece of literature.
Serving as stage manager for “Macbeth,” I have read through this play nearly 50 times by late October. The writing itself is genius; the intricacies and meanings behind the word choice to develop relationships was unknown at Shakespeare’s time.
But most genius of all, every day I get to watch a group of talented people shape and mold Shakespeare into something that is lively and riveting. I am biased since I really like my job as a stage manager, but this show is a must-see.
This “Macbeth” is a play about the push and pull, the yin and yang and the dark and light.
You may remember from your high school English class that “Macbeth” focuses on the nobility of Scotland, and Macbeth’s immoral choices in response to unbalanced power dynamics.
It’s a dark, violent show, with blood, death and betrayal. When
the show opens on Nov. 6, it will end up bringing back the Halloween season. What I like most about Wofford’s rendition of it, though, is that it’s funny.
There are so many times during the run-throughs of our play that I find myself smiling because one, the actors are doing a great job making us as an audience sympathize, but two, the production feels alive. The Shakespearean language does not cover up the humor and humanity in this production.
It will truly be a shocker to all those who get to see it. I can promise the choices made by the show designers, directors and actors have made this a fantastic perspective on “Macbeth,” and overall a wildly entertaining show.
Notable performances will include senior Jack Tope’s Macbeth, and senior Anneka Brannon’s Lady Macbeth. Additionally, the three witches played by Cole Geyer ‘26, Evie Walker ‘26, and Harper Morgan ‘28 will keep you on the edge of your seat for the entire runtime of the production.
Reading through “Macbeth” has been difficult, but the way these actors recite the lines makes the “is this a dagger which I see before me” scene sound like a modern conversation. The attention to detail in making Shakespeare accessible by the directors and actors is revolutionary.
I have always been interested in literary analysis and theatre, so my first experience in the technical world of theatre has been exhilarating. You don’t have to be interested in Shakespeare to see this play, though.
The way it is staged and rethought is so exciting that I can only imagine anybody would enjoy watching this Macbeth take Scotland by storm.
Take the opportunity to give Shakespeare another chance and visit Wofford Theatre.
