Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a well-known tale of power, ambition and the consequences of immorality. In the Monash Uni Student Theatre’s recent production directed by Yvonne Virsik, these themes are showcased in a bold interpretation combined with sinister elements of the play.
With a superbly talented cast of university students, this rendition of Macbeth gave the audience two hours of gripping and intense performances amongst a gothic atmosphere.
Through Virsik’s considerate direction, she honoured the original text and embraced her passion for "evocative language" which she stated is now, "both sharp and expansive – with a dramatic storyline".
Virsik’s vision clearly emphasised the play's themes of power, ambition and moral corruption. This was successfully translated through the cast. The most outstanding performance of the night was Elena Ruefenacht, as Lady Macbeth. Ruefenacht dominated the stage, showcasing her raw emotions and effortlessly conveying Lady Macbeth's descent into madness.
On the other hand, the aggressive and ruthless Macbeth, played by John Burgess, was superb for this production.
Burgess delivered an emotionally charged performance throughout this play, skilfully transforming between emotions of rage and ambition, fear and guilt. Most notably, his portrayal of Macbeth's gradual spiral into paranoia and hallucinations was captivating.
Supporting this central duo with particularly impressive performances were Johnathan Best as Banquo, and Jack Lees as Duncan. Additional cast members who delivered compelling performances in the second act were Maxwell Pickering as Malcolm and Patrick Leong as Macduff with both actors executing their roles skilfully.
Another brilliant element of this production was the effective use of lighting by Ryan Mangold.
The lighting reflected the mood and characters' decline into emotional darkness. The brilliant colours of reds and blues illuminated the stage to highlight intense moments particularly during the opening combat scene, as well as the witches’ scenes.
The three witches played by Felicity Barrow, Tiara Pires and Jasmine Salter were another major highlight; their haunting presence created a spine-chilling tone throughout the play.
The traditional set, designed by Callum Dale, and costume design by Marni McCubbin transported the audience into a Renaissance tapestry, fitting for a Shakespearean play.
The music was also exceptionally composed by Alex Aidt and Sofia Jorgovic, a superb blend of dark tones and moments of heavy beats which were dramatic and suspenseful, complementing Macbeth’s themes of madness and rage.
As the play progressed into the aggressive state, it would have been pleasing to see more breaths and sharp moments of silence, rather than consistent movement. Occasionally, a theatre piece requires expressive moments with no dialogue which adds uniqueness to the production.
The fight choreography by Callum Dale, Kyra Hatzikosmidis and Eloise Vernon, was thoughtfully arranged adding deep intensity during the brutal fights. It heightened the tension between Macbeth and Macduff which was the standout scene of the show.
The final confrontation between Burgess as Macbeth and Leong as Macduff, choreographed by Callum Dale, caught the eye of every audience member. It was almost as though we did not want the fight to end. The two did not allow their facial expressions or physicality waver, the intense violence and rage was consistent throughout the entire battle
Overall, Monash Uni Student Theatre’s production of Macbeth at the Alexander Theatre, under the brilliant direction of Yvonne Virsik, was a gripping and dark portrayal of Shakespeare’s most powerful tragedy. It allowed the audience to reflect on the complex themes of guilt, power, ambition and moral decay.