When killers with incomprehensible motives dominate headlines, committing murder out of ambition seems almost reasonable.
In Shakespeares Macbeth, the protagonist (spoiler alert!) commits regicide, sure but its a decision that isnt taken lightly.
Macbeth is guided to his destiny by witches its witchcraft, or at least some sort of energy or aura that guides him, says Vancouver actor Bob Frazer, who plays the titular character in Bard on the Beachs production of Macbeth, which runs until September 20 in Vanier Park. That doesnt seem to me to be very human. But Shakespeare wrote him as a man, just a man, who makes decisions that are wrong. Hes being guided, but hes making those decisions.
Of course, behind every questionable-decision-making Macbeth is a hand-washing Lady. In this summers Bard version of the play, the task of making the distaff Macbeth relatable falls to Colleen Wheeler.
Its definitely an interesting role, says the Vancouver-based actress, reached, like Frazer, at home a week before opening. She and her husband are a deadly combination. A lot of people have ambition, but they dont kill someone to further their career.
Wheeler and Frazer are a kind of theatrical power match themselves both are Jesse Richardson Theatre Award winners and veterans of previous Bard productions. Frazer debuted with the company in 2005, playing Hamlet, while Wheeler has been with Bard for 10 years, taking on a variety of roles. Besides their star turns in Macbeth, both can also be seen in supporting roles in this seasons other current Bard production, The Taming of the Shrew.
But Macbeth gives them a chance to explore two of Shakespeares most complex characters. While Macbeth is tortured by his actions, Lady Macbeth just wants everything to be all right, says Wheeler. She doesnt have that kind of moral ambiguity he has. She doesnt know what its like to kill people.
For the most part, audiences wont be getting a revisionist version of the play this is the straight stuff, not MacHomer or a contemporary retelling, featuring a gothic set design by Kevin McAllister to emphasize the gloom and doom and plenty of action between soliloquies as Macbeth battles his foes.
Fighting is one of the things I love to do, says Frazer. Ive had fights I think in almost every Shakespeare play Ive done.
The trick is to stay in character during the fight scenes. I played Falstaff a few years ago and he is the most honourable fighter you could meet. Macbeth is the same way; he says, Look, I know youre destined to kill me. And I dont care. He says I will try the last. He will fight to the end. And its beautiful.
So no happy ending, then. But thats all right Frazer just wants people to leave the play understanding, if not agreeing with, Macbeths actions.
Ive asked a lot of people about Macbeth and theyll say, Thats my favourite Shakespeare play, says the actor. I ask why, and almost every single time the response is, Because hes human. And that to me is the most fascinating thing that someone could say about Macbeth.
Macbeth runs Tuesdays to Sundays to September 20, on the BMO Mainstage, in Bards 742-seat custom-built Mainstage Theatre tent in Vanier Park. Tickets $21 to $40. Special June evening price: $36. 604-739-0559 or BardOnTheBeach.org.
