Marist Theatre modernizes "Macbeth"

The Marist College Theatre program in conjunction with MCCTA is giving Shakespeare’s darkest tragedy a mobster twist in their modern adaptation of “Macbeth,” which will be presented in the Nelly Goletti Theatre as the theater group’s spring mainstage production Tuesday, March 7-Friday March 9 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 10 at 2 p.m.

This modern adaptation of the Shakespeare classic takes place in a present-day, Mid-western city at the heart of a crime family. The show’s producer, Melissa Cloonan has found the adaptation aspect both the most challenging and most rewarding part of the show’s production.

“Bringing ‘Macbeth’ to present day has been very difficult in itself,” Cloonan said, “every aspect of the show from costumes, set and props had to be fully believable in modern times.”

Despite this play being set in the present, the production team used Shakespeare’s original text. This proved to be one of the biggest challenges cast members faced, explained Cloonan.

“This was very challenging considering many members of the cast had not read or recited lines written by Shakespeare before,” she said.

Daniel Roberts, who will be playing the part of Macbeth, says his biggest challenge as an actor has been putting everything together as well.

“Macbeth has around 60 percent of the lines in the show,” Roberts said. “Getting all your lines right, knowing all your blocking and remembering the state of mind of the character all simultaneously takes a lot of focus.”

Both Roberts and Cloonan are seasoned MCCTA members, Roberts having taken part in children’s theatre and dinner theatre productions as well as served on the MCCTA board, and Cloonan having co-produced the musical “Oliver!” two years ago.

With an experienced cast, the theatre program was able to modernize an English classic into an American crime drama. The production team has modernized the show beyond just the period adaptation, though.

“We have modernized Macbeth into a present day Mid-western city where the mob family runs the streets,” Cloonan explained. “We also have incorporated a graphic novel theme by featuring screens of comic book panels throughout the show and a comic book playbill.”

The show adds extra excitement through extensive fight scenes.

“The cast worked every weekend with a fight choreographer to make these fights believable and learn to fight safely,” Cloonan said. “I think everyone greatly enjoyed learning with the fight choreographer because it was something the club has never done before.”

General admission tickets are $10; student and senior tickets are $5. Tickets can be reserved by e-mailing the Marist College Box Office at boxofficemccta@gmail.com.