The Bard's dark side - preview

Once in a while a piece of theatre guarantees to really grab your attention for all the right reasons and, as Jo Caruana discovered, the MADC's upcoming production of Macbeth promises to do just that.

There's nothing quite like a good 'ole Shakespeare production to jazz up the summer months and, locally, the Malta Amateur Dramatic Club (MADC) certainly has a long-standing reputation for staging the Bard's works successfully.

This year's offering, Macbeth, will be set in the charming-yet-eerie surroundings of St Elmo in Valletta and at the helm is acclaimed Australian director Geoffrey Borny who travelled to Malta a few weeks ago to take on what many in the business call "the cursed play".

"Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's most revered scripts for good reason," he explained. "It's a love story that keeps you truly hooked but at the same time it's also one of his most dramatic plots.

"From the start I was dead-set on avoiding the idea that Lady Macbeth is the fourth witch - she isn't, instead I've focused on the close relationship between her and her husband. It is as a result of Macbeth's love for her that he accepts her judgment, and it's exactly that that finally drives a wedge between them. When she dies, everything he's chosen to do becomes pointless - there's a very personal tragedy going on here that is often forgotten in light of the public tragedy also taking place. I think that it's vital to remember how, in Shakespeare's day, the idea of kings and rightful kingship were connected through harmony and divinity. Thus, killing a king would result in the complete and utter chaos that we see in Macbeth; it's amazing how well the script works on both of those levels.

"In a sense I've decided to keep the production quite traditional and I was especially inspired by St Elmo which fits the piece like a glove. It feels right because the play's setting is just prior to the renaissance and through Macbeth we can see the developing idea of nationhood. I find that thanks to that it is so relevant to today's political climate - Iraq, Africa, parts of Europe, areas where democracy is hard to hang onto and tribalism seems to surface again and again. You don't need to set Macbeth in modern times to highlight any parallels with the world today."

Throughout his stay, Mr Borny has particularly enjoyed working with local actors.

"I've loved my time in Malta so far and have been amazed by the interest that people have in Shakespeare. It's also been fascinating to see the level of dedication that local actors have for their art. I'm used to working on a production over a much longer period but the cast and crew seem used to working to tight schedule because everyone's been professional and committed and we've managed to get the job done in time.

"I've been so lucky that my cast have been absolutely fantastic and as a whole I've been really impressed by them. My approach has been to emphasise vocal clarity and encouraging emotions through language as opposed to over-the-top action. Some actors, all over the world, give you emotion but then forget some of the text, so I've been helping them to use the provided language as the channel for their emotions. I'm hoping that this will make the play much more accessible to a wider audience than it sometimes is and I would like to think that everyone, from students and culture lovers to the public, will find this show rich and enthralling.

"It goes without saying that it is a very powerful play and it's also the shortest of Shakespeare's tragedies which may make it extra appealing to some people! Even those with a remote love of theatre won't want to miss out on this one."

The stellar cast includes Paul Portelli as Macbeth, Charlotte Grech as Lady Macbeth, Alan Paris as Macduff, Paula Fleri-Soler as Lady Macduff, Katherine Brown, Faye Paris and Maxine Calejja Urry as the Witches, Jean Pierre Agius as Banquo, Ralph Mangion as Lennox, Colin Willis as Ross and Martin Azzopardi as Duncan.

But all things considered it seems that Macbeth isn't known as the cursed play for nothing...

"Contrary to the director and most of the actors in this production, I am superstitious!" said the play's executive producer Nanette Brimmer. "And even if I wasn't at the start, at this stage I'd have every reason to believe in the 'curse' this play is associated with.

I cannot begin to list the many stumbling blocks and obstacles we encountered - from casting to venue. But thank goodness I actually 'enjoy' working under pressure, and I'm always up for a challenge!

"All stumbling blocks fragmented and obstacles surmounted, the cast and backstage crew ploughed forward in sheer team spirit, and all in all, it has been such a gratifying experience. To see one of Shakespeare's most intense tragedies come together so brilliantly in four weeks is satisfaction enough for all the hard work and worry one goes through.

"Fort St Elmo as a backdrop is absolutely stunning! And at the end of the day, it really does come together and the result promises to be amazing."

• Macbeth is being staged at St Elmo (opposite the MCC) between Jul5 and July 9. A special preview for secondary school students is being held on July 3. Tickets may be obtained from James Cavalier by phone on 2122 3200 or e-mail: boxoffice@sjcav.org. More information may be obtained from the website: www.madc.biz.