The Strawberry Hill Players embark on their 2024-2025 season with Celine Montaudy’s adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The classic tale follows the story of Macbeth (played by Jane McNamara) a man who craves power after three witches (Adele Samsonas, Zoe Guaman, Krystal Manelo) tell him that he will become the King of Scotland. This compelling power is also craved by his dear Lady Macbeth (Pavla Smid). He soon follows the dark road in order to fulfill his so-called “destiny” to become the King, even if it means hurting the ones closest to him.
While Macbeth has been performed to the world for decades, the Strawberry Hill Players’ unique punk rock spin on this tale goes far from any other Macbeth production. Cooper Toland, a senior at Stamford High and president of the Strawberry Hill Players, states: “Our version of Macbeth has really hit this message home as the punk rock themes are about being who you are and not conforming to societal expectations.” Jane McNamara, a senior at Stamford High, plays the role of Macbeth. She chimed in as well regarding the usefulness of the adaptation’s punk elements. She states “The punk rock movement itself was very self expressive and … we are reflecting that in our costumes and makeup.”
I walked into this show with little information, as I am not familiar with Shakespeare’s writing. After seeing it, I was impressed by the complicated dialogues that were performed beautifully. It takes a strong skill set to be able to memorize and marinate such a complicated piece of literature. The chemistry between the characters followed with the eerie, yet cool, soundtrack allowed the scenes to truly glide and elevate the play’s messages. You can feel every emotion that the characters express. You feel the pain of each character, and the dark, twisted energy throughout. Although the Elizabethan language can be quite challenging to dissect, you can understand and follow the story regardless. Thanks to the cast’s effort and hours of practice, they maintain the ability to carry out their characters whether through the tone of their voices or their movements.
When performing a complex show, it’s important to have a comfortable connection between members of the cast. This was clearly shown on stage. “Given the small cast we have for Macbeth, I believe that was something that helped create a more intimate environment for the cast to bond and get to know each other,” said Adele Samsonas, a senior at Stamford High (Witch No. 1). She adds, “It helped us get comfortable with stage combat and the telling of Macbeth’s story.”
A major stand out to me was the costumes. They represented the characters incredibly well and absolutely elevated the performance. “Costuming this show was like my baby,” said Zoe Guaman, a junior at Stamford High (Witch No. 2). “I’m so happy I was given the freedom to costume everyone in the show, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without Ms. Dunn.” “It really helped me embrace the weirder and spookier side of Witch No. 1, while also being able to inhabit the ruggedness of the First Murder,” Samsonas added.
The show has left people in amazement after watching. “The show was amazing. The cast memorized and performed difficult language brilliantly while the audience was on the edge of their seats. Perfect from the chiaroscuro lighting to the eerie music.” says Kate Morton, a senior at Stamford High and vice president of the Strawberry Hill Players. Mia Carrizzo, a senior, adds that “The show was fantastic. The lighting sets a dark and eerie mood … reflecting the characters’ aggression. The music adds to the atmosphere with spooky tunes and intense drum beats, making the scenes feel tense and mysterious.”
This is definitely a show you don’t want to miss. The Strawberry Hill Players’ Macbeth will have its two final performances on Nov. 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for students and seniors are $15, and tickets are $20 for adults. Tickets can be bought in person or online at Onthestage.com. The show’s runtime is an hour and 20 minutes with no intermission.