Shakespeare can be hard to understand with its complicated language, so I was hesitant to see the production of Macbeth at Synetic Theater in Arlington, Virginia.
Having not read anything in advance of the production, I didn't know what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised. It was amazing. It is a cross between The Matrix, Blade Runner, The Crow, and Nine Inch Nails with a mix of ballet and martial arts.
Macbeth is part of Synetic Theater's The Silent Shakespeare Festival. Besides Macbeth being performed, the next two Shakespeare plays at Synetic Theater will be Othello, and then Romeo & Juliet.
No words are exchanged in this production. It is a full on physical, body language, music, and dance production. The use of lights, the eerie stage, the macabre costumes and great music contributed to a great show. The stage is tilted and looks like a dark dungeon.
The show is all about nonverbal communications and how power corrupts. It is fascinating to watch as we are so over stimulated with sounds, technology, the iPhone, etc. It is an escape into your eyes, primarily while having the music guide your eyes through the scenes. The non-stop action is mind-blowing. Especially cool is the running in place effect. For the ladies there is a fight scene where a very chiseled actor, Ben Cunis, playing Macduff, takes off his shirt and fights Macbeth for the throne.
The show opens up with a battle scene. Dead bodies lay on the stage and three goth witches ascend lithely and have the bodies rise up and descend into their evil cauldron. One of the witches, portrayed by Philip Fletcher, received a Helen Hayes Outstanding Supporting Actor Award for his portrayal of a witch in Macbeth previously.
Macbeth, played by Irakli Kavasdze, and his wife, played beautifully by Irina Tsikurishvili, are given a premonition of Macbeth becoming the next king by the witches. Macbeth and his wife become consumed with their desire for power. After that premonition it is nonstop bloodshed, violence, and betrayal.
After the show, there was a Q&A with the cast and director. It was continually stressed how the show has grown organically. The music is originally scored, with most of it done on a computer by Konstantine Lortkipanidze. The dancing, choreographed by Irina Tsikurishvili, is quite beautiful, but remarkably most of the actors do not have classical training. The actors take their craft very seriously.
They consistently work on ways to improve the show even while the show is being shown to audiences. It took about six months to bring everything together with the music, choreography, costumes, and fight scenes.
The actors typically rehearse prior to the show's debut three to four hours a day. They train in ballet, improv, rap, dancing, etc. It is an intense training and one actress stated that some people cannot handle it and those that do... well she says laughing, "We are masochists."
Actor Ryan Sellers stated this about their work ethic, "You're either getting better or worse, but you are never just staying the same. We are always trying to get better." The shows' hard work has shown off with it winning five Helen Hayes Awards in its previous showing in 2007.
This was probably one of the best shows I've seen this year and it is highly recommended. From the pure talent, the uniqueness, artistry, and physicality of the show to its music, costumes, and lighting it is a full packaged wallop.
The show is 90 minutes long. It runs until October 2 at Synetic Theater, 1800 S. Bell St, Arlington, VA. For more information call 1-800-494-8487 or go online at www.synetictheater.org.
Photos courtesy of Synetic Theater
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.