<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:st1 =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16608" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"
bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=role_document
face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 12.6pt"><FONT
face=Helvetica><STRONG><SPAN class=story-title1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">'Macbeth' brewing with evil at Actors' Summit
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></STRONG></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt"><STRONG><FONT size=3><SPAN
class=story-deck1><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Shakespearean
tragedy finds new resonance in Hudson as 'really good creep fest'
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></STRONG></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt"><SPAN class=post-credit1><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3>By
Kerry Clawson </FONT></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR><FONT
size=3><SPAN class=post-credit1><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Beacon Journal
</SPAN></SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt"><FONT size=3><FONT color=#999999><SPAN
class=post-date1><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Published
on </SPAN></SPAN><st1:date Month="2" Day="26" Year="2008"><SPAN
class=post-date1><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Tuesday,
</SPAN></SPAN><st1:date Month="2" Day="26" Year="2008" ls="trans"><SPAN
class=post-date1><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Feb
26, 2008</SPAN></SPAN></st1:date></st1:date><SPAN class=post-date1><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 6pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>An eerily thrilling tone pervades
Actors' Summit's <I>Macbeth, </I>from the opening percussive chorus that the
whole cast creates to the play's final moments, as the three sinister witches
beckon a new young king offstage. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 6pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Director Neil Thackaberry and musical
director Daniel Taylor have created a remarkably dramatic opening, with Sally
Groth playing a harmonium before the whole cast moves into a percussive segment
with the help of drums, walking staffs and other tools, punctuated by battle
cries to introduce Scotland at war. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 6pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>In this Shakespearean tragedy, the war
hero Macbeth is favored by King Duncan. Then Macbeth hears a prophecy of what he
believes to be his royal destiny from three witches, sending him on a
supernatural course toward destruction. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 6pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>As Macbeth, Thackaberry has such a
gloomy intensity from the start, we see how this nobleman's dark nature emerges
so quickly that he is unable to control his ''black and deep desires.''
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 6pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>It's also a treat to see Thackaberry
star opposite wife MaryJo Alexander as Lady Macbeth. She's a fiendishly sexy
queen, clad in a low-cut black dress with just the right sparkle and red satin
lining to suggest royalty. This couple's passionate kisses fit in with Lady
Macbeth challenging her husband's manliness as she pushes him toward
bloodthirsty deeds. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 6pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>The men wear a lot of loose tunics with
belts in this play. Later, a short, shiny green jacket on Young Siward (John
Galbraith) looks surprisingly incongruous — more fit for a Vegas act than a
battle scene. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 6pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>In <I>Macbeth, </I>Shakespeare's
shortest tragedy, the director's goal was to hold the audience's interest while
creating ''some really good poetry.'' Actors' Summit succeeds on both counts
with this production, which features the largest cast of its season.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 6pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Terry Burgler, co-founder of the Ohio
Shakespeare Festival, offers one of the play's few scenes of levity as Macbeth's
clownish, hungover porter. Most of the actors do well with Shakespeare's
rhythms, making the text understandable while keeping up a quick pace.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 6pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 6pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>This murder, mayhem and stage fighting
will be enjoyed by more than adult audiences: With the help of a GAR Foundation
grant, <I>Macbeth </I>also will be presented in five school performances.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 6pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Alexander has described the show as a
''really good creep fest,'' which includes Banquo's gruesome ghost (Geoffrey
Darling) at the dinner table. The only goofy gore comes at the end, when a
fake-looking decapitated head is presented on a stick.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 6pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Throughout this production, nothing
could be more chilling than the three witches, frighteningly brought to life by
Groth, Rachel Anderson and Jocelyn Roueiheb. Their eerie intonations and hand
movements are spooky, but their ghastly opaque masks look nightmarish. As
Macbeth becomes unhinged, the trickery of these witches becomes apparent.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 6pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Even when they're not in witches' masks,
these three actresses look on solemnly during much of the play's action,
reminding one of the three Fates. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 6pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Alexander's Lady Macbeth is more
believably ruthless than Macbeth himself, who shows remorse for the carnage he
is inflicting but is incapable of stopping: ''I am in blood stepped in so far
that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o'er,'' he says.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 6pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Director Thackaberry has even
interpolated the three witches into the end of the play as they swarm the new
king. Perhaps he's making a statement about all of our dark natures, implying
that even the new ''good guy'' may not remain immune to blind ambition and blood
lust.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<DIV class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 6pt 0pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN class=storytext1><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
size=3>
<HR align=center width="100%" color=#cccccc noShade SIZE=1>
</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 6pt 0pt 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt"><SPAN
class=storytext1><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-ansi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
size=3>Staff writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at </FONT><A
href="mailto:kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com"><FONT color=#000099
size=3>kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com</FONT></A><FONT size=3>.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.6pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 6pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=storytext style="MARGIN: 6pt 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">An eerily thrilling tone pervades
Actors' Summit's <I>Macbeth, </I>from the opening percussive chorus that the
whole cast creates to the play's final moments, as the three sinister witches
beckon a new young king offstage.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=storytext style="MARGIN: 6pt 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Director Neil Thackaberry and
musical director Daniel Taylor have created a remarkably dramatic opening, with
Sally Groth playing a harmonium before the whole cast moves into a percussive
segment with the help of drums, walking staffs and other tools, punctuated by
battle cries to introduce Scotland at war.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=storytext style="MARGIN: 6pt 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">In this Shakespearean tragedy, the
war hero Macbeth is favored by King Duncan. Then Macbeth hears a prophecy of
what he believes to be his royal destiny from three witches, sending him on a
supernatural course toward destruction.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=storytext style="MARGIN: 6pt 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">As Macbeth, Thackaberry has such a
gloomy intensity from the start, we see how this nobleman's dark nature emerges
so quickly that he is unable to control his ''black and deep
desires.''<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=storytext style="MARGIN: 6pt 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">It's also a treat to see Thackaberry
star opposite wife MaryJo Alexander as Lady Macbeth. She's a fiendishly sexy
queen, clad in a low-cut black dress with just the right sparkle and red satin
lining to suggest royalty. This couple's passionate kisses fit in with Lady
Macbeth challenging her husband's manliness as she pushes him toward
bloodthirsty deeds.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=storytext style="MARGIN: 6pt 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The men wear a lot of loose tunics
with belts in this play. Later, a short, shiny green jacket on Young Siward
(John Galbraith) looks surprisingly incongruous — more fit for a Vegas act than
a battle scene.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=storytext style="MARGIN: 6pt 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">In <I>Macbeth, </I>Shakespeare's
shortest tragedy, the director's goal was to hold the audience's interest while
creating ''some really good poetry.'' Actors' Summit succeeds on both counts
with this production, which features the largest cast of its
season.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=storytext style="MARGIN: 6pt 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Terry Burgler, co-founder of the
Ohio Shakespeare Festival, offers one of the play's few scenes of levity as
Macbeth's clownish, hungover porter. Most of the actors do well with
Shakespeare's rhythms, making the text understandable while keeping up a quick
pace.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=storytext style="MARGIN: 6pt 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=storytext style="MARGIN: 6pt 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">This murder, mayhem and stage
fighting will be enjoyed by more than adult audiences: With the help of a GAR
Foundation grant, <I>Macbeth </I>also will be presented in five school
performances.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=storytext style="MARGIN: 6pt 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Alexander has described the show as
a ''really good creep fest,'' which includes Banquo's gruesome ghost (Geoffrey
Darling) at the dinner table. The only goofy gore comes at the end, when a
fake-looking decapitated head is presented on a stick.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=storytext style="MARGIN: 6pt 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Throughout this production, nothing
could be more chilling than the three witches, frighteningly brought to life by
Groth, Rachel Anderson and Jocelyn Roueiheb. Their eerie intonations and hand
movements are spooky, but their ghastly opaque masks look nightmarish. As
Macbeth becomes unhinged, the trickery of these witches becomes
apparent.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=storytext style="MARGIN: 6pt 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Even when they're not in witches'
masks, these three actresses look on solemnly during much of the play's action,
reminding one of the three Fates.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=storytext style="MARGIN: 6pt 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Alexander's Lady Macbeth is more
believably ruthless than Macbeth himself, who shows remorse for the carnage he
is inflicting but is incapable of stopping: ''I am in blood stepped in so far
that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o'er,'' he
says.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=storytext style="MARGIN: 6pt 0in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Director Thackaberry has even
interpolated the three witches into the end of the play as they swarm the new
king. Perhaps he's making a statement about all of our dark natures, implying
that even the new ''good guy'' may not remain immune to blind ambition and blood
lust.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Staff writer Kerry Clawson may be
reached at </FONT><A href="mailto:kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com"><FONT
color=#000099 size=3>kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com</FONT></A><FONT
size=3>.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Delicious ideas to please the pickiest eaters. <A title="http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598" href="http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598" target="_blank">Watch the video on AOL Living.</A></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>