The Montana Actors’ Theater will hold live performances of Macbeth, presented by Frank and Bettie Barber this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
These are outdoor performances at Beaver Creek Park at the Lion’s Campground that uses live animals. Audience members are asked to bring their own seating.
In Macbeth, the main character comes upon some witches that make proclamations about Macbeth and Macduff that all come true, either by fate or put into motion by the actions of the characters themselves.
The titular role is played by Dr. Grant Olson, and he says this interpretation pays homage to the historical inspiration for the play.
“Macbeth is really interesting because there was a lot of uncertainty of who would be the successor to Queen Elizabeth because she didn’t have any kids. England had just gotten through this hundred years of war, The War of the Roses, where it was back and forth between two families and whose heir was important. Then Henry VIII didn’t have a male heir then he converted to Protestantism and we have this whole civil war again, a religious war, I think it was. So they were very nervous when Elizabeth didn’t have an heir. So when King James was named her successor and he was coming down to England there was a lot of curiosity about what going on with this King of Scotland who is now our king. Shakespeare specifically wrote this play for the Scottish king, and King James was fascinated by witchcraft. Both afraid of it but fascinated by it.”
Olson says this play is taken from Shakespeare’s texts which are from compilations of existing performances. In the opening scene of the play live horses are used to recreate a battle scene in the play that was referenced by dialogue only and has not been performed on stage. Olson says many of the cast members are more than community amateurs.
“There’s a good handful of actors that have taken professional work that are back in here.”
Macbeth opens Friday, August 26th. There are games and drinks available at 4 PM with the play beginning at 6 PM. Saturday has an expanded schedule. At 2 PM there are games, vendors and food and drinks with the show at 6 PM. Sunday is Family Day where attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch with games and drinks at noon with the play at 2 PM.
For more information about Macbeth or other performances go to http://mtactors.com
