I arrived at A Noise Within’s Pasadena theater beyond excited to see their take on “Macbeth” set in New Orleans.
Directed by Andi Chapman, the play opens with a creative montage of scenes quickly and poetically setting the stage for the three witches to appear in Act I, scene 1. I was instantly hooked. First, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth share an emotionally powerful moment, then they dance lovingly to fabulous New Orleans jazz, before we witness a battle scene choreographed with slow-motion death blows. A wave of emotion went through me as I realized this was going to be another special production from the talented artists at A Noise Within.
Top reasons to see “Macbeth” at A Noise Within:
1. A phenomenal cast
The diverse casting nicely reflects the culture of New Orleans and brings a fresh take to “The Scottish Play.” The phenomenal ensemble includes standouts such as Kamal Bolden (Macbeth), Julanne Chidi Hill (Lady Macbeth), and Mildred Marie Langford, Joy DeMichelle and Roshni Shukla (the witches). Bolden breathes new life into one of theater’s favorite villains. His performance is riveting, whether he is hallucinating a dagger or Banquo’s ghost, or entranced by the witches, or pondering death itself. Hill displays an impressive range of talent as Lady Macbeth, credibly transitioning from scheming wife to sleepwalking madwoman. And these actors are not just phoning it in; they make the Bard’s 17th-century language accessible with their exceptional talents.
2. A haunting production
The play feels immersive because the actors use the entire theater, entering and exiting in the aisles so much, you feel the audience is part of the show. The set is minimal, but the projections effectively place you in New Orleans in the late 19th/early 20th century — a place with intriguing character all its own. So many fantastic elements set the ominous mood: the shadows of skeletal tree limbs, the bayou, the candlelit site of Macbeth’s second visit to the witches, the thunder storms.
3. The Bard’s genius
The Bard’s final tragedy is a story of coldblooded murder and unbridled ambition with witchcraft, ghosts and hallucinations, not to mention some of Shakespeare’s most memorable lines. This production, more than any other I’ve seen, made me want to immerse myself in the play. I ran out and bought a copy at Vroman’s within a couple days. You will recognize so many lines, like “Fair is foul, and foul is fair,” and famous soliloquies, like:
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
So, “hie thee hither” to A Noise Within. “Macbeth” is always a play not to be missed, and this haunting production will absolutely convince you why.
— Julie Riggott, Culture Spot LA
“Macbeth” continues through March 9. For more information and tickets, visit https://www.anoisewithin.org.
Photo credit: Kamal Bolden, Julanne Chidi Hill and Ensemble in “Macbeth” at A Noise Within / Photo by Craig Schwartz