Book Reviews and More: Goblin Macbeth Stratford Festival 2023 A Review

Wednesday 28 August 2024

Goblin Macbeth Stratford Festival 2023 A Review

Goblin Macbeth

2023

Stratford Festival

A Spontaneous Theatre creation

by Rebecca Northan with Bruce Horak

Directed by Rebecca Northan

Goblin Macbeth Stratford Festival 2024 A Review

Over the last few years my son, who is now 16, and I have attended a number of plays in Stratford at the festival. We eagerly await the announcements of the season’s shows and often debate what shows we want to attend and why and then we buy our tickets early in the winter. For the 2023 Season I did not get around to writing reviews during the season but wanted to still share my thoughts. And this production was just amazing. It was the last of five shows we saw in 2023, the others were: King Lear, Frankenstein Revived, Grand Magic, and A Wrinkle in Time. And to be honest other than Richard III this is the play my son talks about most to other people when they find out he has an interest in theatre. But back to this production.

Cast:

Rebecca Northan

Bruce Horak

Ellis Lalonde

This play has its world première in 2022 at The Shakespeare Company and Hit and Myth Productions in Calgary, Alberta. The entire play is put on by a cast of three assuming different stances, voices, postures and a few props to play the various roles in the play. This production was done in the Meighen Forum a small intimate space, with steep seating and seating in an arc around the performance area. The actors in full costume and character come in through the lobby prior to the doors being opened.

Then they are wandering around the stage and interacting with the props and elements on stage. So the magic begins before they even utter a single line of the play. The characters often break the fourth wall and interact with the audience. Including having the audience become the attacking army.

This was a near perfect production. The audience was engaged, enthralled and had an incredible time. The play was masterfully executed and I was amazed at how well the three put it on. The Music by Ellis fits perfectly with the actions and events. And the goblins costumes and acting was amazing.

After the production my son and I went to a local eatery and ran into Stratford alumni Jamie Mac, he informed us that Bruce Horak is legally blind, this making the performance and play that much more incredible.

Macbeth, is amongst my favourite plays by the bard. In part because of being half Scottish, in part because of the legends and mysteries around the play and its many plagued productions, and in part I just love the story. That being said this Deadpool-ish production of the play is absolutely outstanding!

Note: This production has shows in Toronto in October 2024, and in Edmonton in January and February 2025. Also they have now produced and performed Goblin Oedipus, which we will hope will have a stop in Stratford next season.