The Dixie Sun

Issue date: 3/3/10 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Kassi Gillette Hannah Davenport, a sophomore integrated studies major from St. George, and Travis Cox, a senior integrated studies major from St. George, are the two leading roles of the play. "Macbeth" will run through Friday at the Eccles.

I have to wonder if anyone will ever produce a Shakespeare show in the time era it was meant to be portrayed in.

I know it's been the trend to set different Shakespeare plays in different times, but after so much of that particular fad, I'm thirsty for some authentic Bawdy Bard. I readily admit the idea of having Dixie State College's production of "Macbeth" set in Civil War era is creative, but it just needed something more. Perhaps having the show set in ancient Scotland?

That being said, I am always impressed with any actor, especially one at a college level, who has the wherewithal to memorize three hours worth of Billy Shakespeare.

Hannah Davenport, a sophomore integrated studies major from St. George, said the setting was a small obstacle to overcome in the development of her role, Lady Macbeth.

"We've been rehearsing since November," Davenport said. "We've done a lot of text analysis [and] making sure we knew what we were saying [and] talking about character development and stuff. [Being set in the South has] totally changed a lot of the character interpretations. Lady Macbeth is a more tolerable Scarlet O'Hara."

Davenport also compared the war-torn South to ancient Scotland, and the social implications both had.

Travis Cox, a senior integrated studies major from St. George, played the title role and said it took him losing control to land the part of Macbeth.

"(Director) Michael (Harding) said he wanted to see me lose control, because I've been really safe in past shows," Cox said. "We had set monologues to do, and there's a monologue where Macduff is... calling out Macbeth. It's funny how a Macduff monologue got me in. It was just pounding on the floor and screaming at the top of my lungs. It's something he's never seen from any of my characters in the past."

Frank Bryant, a sophomore theater major from Las Vegas, played the character of Macbeth's rival, Macduff. Bryant incidentally is black, and that in and of itself posed an interesting approach to character development.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools