The Hamilton College Performing Arts Series opens the spring semester with a performance of Macbeth presented by the Aquila Theatre Company on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 8 p.m. in Wellin Hall. There will be a pre-concert discussion lead by Aquila’s artistic director Peter Meineck at 7 p.m. in Café Opus.
“Fair is foul and foul is fair” in Aquila Theatre’s rendering of the chaotic world of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, where nothing is as it seems and men combat their own madness and fates.
The play centers on the victorious Scottish general Macbeth, who chances upon three mysterious witches in the forest during his journey home from war. The witches offer Macbeth an intriguing prophesy, tempting the skeptical man with the promise that he will one day become King of Scotland. Upon hearing the news, Lady Macbeth urges her husband into murderous action, and what follows is a wild and maddening descent into war, insanity and demons.
Often superstitiously referred to as “the Scottish play” by those who fear to utter the name Macbeth within the confines of a theater, the play has enjoyed considerable success as well as notoriety as a cursed play. Aquila breathes fresh life and fire into this wickedly troubled work, with The New Yorker describing their productions as “The classics made relevant with superb acting and clever staging” while The New York Times exclaims “The excellent Aquila Theatre, an extraordinarily inventive and disciplined outfit.”
This performance is supported, in part by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation’s Mid Atlantic Tours program.
Tickets for the performance are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens and Hamilton Community, and $5 for students. Group rates are available. For tickets or more information call the box office at 859-4331 or visit www.hamiltonpa.org.
