Review: 'Macbeth' by Phoenix Stage Company

When shall we three meet again?

In thunder, lightning, or in rain?

When the hurly-burly’s done,

When the battle’s lost and won.

Phoenix Stage Company at Clockwork decided to commemorate the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death with a production of the tragedy of ‘Macbeth.’ In his notes, director John Long declines to jump into the controversy of who actually wrote the plays credited to the Bard, but writes that during the rehearsal process he and the cast were reminded of the greatness of the Scottish play. Scholars have argued over the both the meaning of the play and especially of the importance of the “weird sisters.” While some maintain the three witches simply prophesize the future, this production has the witches using magic to control the future. Therefore, the three sisters “take on additional roles that are instrumental in pushing Macbeth and other characters toward the resolution the witches desire.”

Assistant Director Tori Richnavsky is a former student of the director, as is her husband, the Fight Director Rob Richnavsky. Jameson Willey, the Lighting Designer is another former student. The talented Burton Tedesco, the chair of the department of the arts and instructor of theater at Naugatuck Valley Community College who takes on the title role, is joined onstage by five students from his program. The director concludes, “These connections have helped us create an ensemble in which everyone has devoted a great deal of time to make a very old play come to life for a modern audience.”

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The play that must not be named inside the theater runs through June 18 at the Clockwork.