Theater Review: 'MAC BETH' by Naugatuck Valley Theater Dept.

By Nancy Sasso Janis

“Something wicked this way comes”

The Naugatuck Valley Theater Department and NVCC Foundation is presenting “MAC BETH,” a a play adapted from William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” by Erica Schmidt. Sasha Bratt directs the all-female cast.

The premise of this adaptation is that after school, a group of teenage girls convene in an abandoned lot to perform a play. They drop their backpacks, transform their uniforms, and dive into a DIY retelling of “Macbeth.” As the girls conjure kings, warriors, and witches, Shakespeare’s bloody tale seeps into their reality.

“MAC BETH” recontextualizes a classic text to expose the ferocity of adolescence and the intoxicating power of collective fantasy.

In this printed program note, it states that “While they perform Shakespeare’s text, they become more and more lost in the world of the play and the thin line between truth and fiction begins to disappear. When the play reaches its bloody conclusion, the mirror that theater holds up to nature is shattered.”

I was able to catch the opening night performance and was quite impressed with the work that the cast members had put into bringing this work to the NVCC stage. I had come expecting that the play would include clips of “The Scottish Play,” but the adaptation is actually a judiciously shortened version of Shakespeare’s text. Therefore, the players had to master all of the Shakespearean language despite the modernization of the look of the play. There are only snippets of modern touches added to the script.

Schmidt was inspired to write this adaptation after learning of the 2012 “Slender Man stabbings” and the 2012 murder of Skylar Neese by two of her friends, two violent attacks that display an aggression in girls that is often underreported.

The program notes concludes: “While we may have been desensitized to the evil acts in ‘Macbeth’ over the last 400 years, this play aims to re-sensitize us to them and remind us how horrific they, and we, can be.” With Bratt’s strong direction, the cast and crew do just that. I loved the use of water throughout the play..yes, it actually rains for some scenes.

Technical Coordinator Jonathan Curns has a lot going on during this performance and makes it all work. The set was designed by Dan Nischan and works very well throughout the changing requirements. The lighting design by Curns is well done and Christopher Varanko was in charge of the often scary sound design.

Costumes designed by Lisa Bebey are based on school uniforms that transform to the necessary characters with add ons. Kudos to Edward Antigua on some clever props.

Jenna Garraffo plays Witch 1, Donalbain, Porter and Doctor. She has appeared as a Jet in Landmark Community Theatre’s “West Side Story” and was a featured dancer in Landmark’s “Let It Be.” Ingrid White portrays Witch 2, Angus, Malcolm and Murderer 2 in her second production at NVCC.

Bella Husk takes on Witch 3, Fleance, Lenox, Old Man(comically) and Murderer 1; Husk played Freida in “Carrie.”

Makayla Balducci tackles the role of Macbeth and gives an amazing performance. Balducci played Chris in NVCC’s “Carrie,” Olive in “Spelling Bee,” and was the stage manager for “‘I and You.”

Second year NVCC student Erin Moderacki, who played the title role in the excellent “Carrie” at the college, is an appropriately strong Lady Macbeth. Lindsay Hayes portrays Macduff in her third NVCC show. NVCC theater major Molly Riley (Caroline in “I and You”) gives a great performance in the role of Banquo and she also plays Seyton. Jordan Contardo covers the role of Ross, Duncan and Gentlewoman.

“MAC BETH” runs about 85 minutes without an intermission and there is simulated violence and fog. Performances continue Nov. 3, and 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Dr. Frederick Ricci PlayBox Theater.

Tickets available online only, get yours now before they sell out: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/76970

Poster design by Vismel Marquez and NVCC Digital Arts Dept.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She is also a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column IN THE WINGS and theater reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the CCC Facebook page.