Thursday, 4/24/97 Shakespeare group offers new rendition of
‘Macbeth’ Troupe hopes to draw audiences into action by putting
contemporary spin on language
By Kathleen Rhames Daily Bruin Contributor When it comes to
appreciating theater, Shakespeare may seem like a hard nut to
crack. The language often leaves even the most open-minded of
audiences struggling to interpret a flowery rhetoric that is 400
years old. But the guy must have done something right. His plays
have transcended centuries, and the mastery of them is considered
the greatest example of an actor’s talent. In a new rendition of
the classic "Macbeth," the UCLA Shakespeare Reading and Performance
Group combines traditional Shakespearean text with contemporary
ways of uniting audiences in an understanding of the centuries-old
language. "The problem with Shakespeare is that it is 400 years old
and consequently is difficult for actors to interpret and audiences
to understand," says director Jad Duwaik. "We as a group are trying
to experiment with the text to find new ways of making it
interesting for people." Known for its fast paced and colorful
plot, Macbeth explores issues of sexuality, violence and loyalty
engulfed in a surreal world of witches and folklore. One of the
shortest plays Shakespeare wrote, the speed and excitement of the
story are what Duwaik believes enables an audience to feel less
intimidated by Shakespeare. "One of the things we’re trying to do
with Macbeth is make it accessible to a first time audience –
people who know nothing about the play," Duwaik says. "I’ve tried
to open up the theater and give the sense that the audience is
involved in the world we create for them. I want them to be in the
middle of the action rather than on the outside watching." While it
may have a good plot and storyline, a play is only as good as the
actors that perform it. Luckily this play promises a superb cast.
Members of the UCLA Shakespeare Reading and Performance Group are
as diverse in their theater experience as a specific group can get,
which perhaps is the reason for their widespread appeal to
audiences. Although many of the actors are experienced Shakespeare
performers, most get involved just to entertain a driving love for
theater. "Shakespeare is so difficult to do and there aren’t really
that many places around here that will teach you to do it," says
Anna Wenger, a third-year history student who plays the roles of
Angus, the Gentlewoman and Lady McDuff. "If you really want to
learn to act, then these are the people to teach you how to do it
because they know it so well." Creating a learning environment that
is both accessible to all people and unintimidating for those with
little Shakespeare experience is the primary objective of the
Shakespeare Reading and Performance Group. Each quarter, it
produces 10-minute scenes that encourage those interested in acting
and directing to put their aspirations to the test. According to
Owen Thomas, who plays the role of Malcolm, understanding the
language of Shakespeare is easy to do. "It becomes extremely
natural once you get over that block in your mind of him being the
most important author since God gave Moses the Bible," Thomas says.
"With Macbeth, there are characters you can hate and also those
that you can enjoy rooting for. It’s a clear, strong story that
people have a lot of fun following and as an actor, it has some
lines that you can really wrap your lips around and savor their
poetry." And Thomas should know. A Shakespeare veteran, he has been
performing in student productions for many years. But for others,
including Duwaik, there’s a nervous excitement circulating
throughout rehearsals. Macbeth will be Duwaik’s directorial debut.
A former math and business economics student, he became interested
in Shakespeare one night during a routine cram for a final exam.
Using Cliff’s Notes to help him study for a Shakespeare class,
Duwaik found the text version more meaningful than the summarized
layman’s perspective. And so spawned his involvement in the
Shakespeare Reading and Performance Group and his desire to spread
his enthusiasm to others on campus and in the community. "I want
people to see that theater is a very vibrant medium that is
completely different from film, television or the written page,"
Duwaik says. "When you watch TV or a movie, you’re on the outside
looking in, but with theater, you can become involved in it. You’re
10 feet away from the actors and you can make that connection."
THEATER: The UCLA Shakespeare Reading and Performance Group will
give a free preview of Macbeth at the Northwest Campus Auditorium
at Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Performances will run May 1 through 4 at 8
p.m. at the Attic Theater in Hollywood. SHAWN LAKSMI/Daily Bruin
Arthur Milliken , right, rehearses scenes from "Macbeth" with Jonas
"Dirt" Ballz. Both are part of a Shakespeare reading groups on
campus that will perform this Saturday at the Northwest Auditorium.
SHAWN LAKSMI/Daily Bruin Jonas Ballz, a fourth-year women’s studies
student, plays McDuff in "MacBeth" this Saturday. Falcon Education
Link: Macbeth