Today began with dress rehearsal for tonight's performance. The campers were encouraged to harness the same energy expended during yesterday's speed through in dress rehearsal, and to use those loud, projected "give me my cookie!" voices. Each camper wore their Macbeth summer camp shirt, and costume pieces were added to designate their characters. All props (such as daggers, crowns, and cauldrons) and sound effects (such as trumpet fanfares and thunder claps) and music (such as the opening number) were integrated into this run through. Even furniture for the infamous banquet scene was brought onstage. This is the day when rehearsals were to become a production.
When in production, the ghoulish and ghostly elements
of Macbeth came to life in the hands of these young
actors. From the three witches, to Banquo's ghost, to conjuring spells, to
devilish apparitions, Midsummer Day Camp's production of this play has a
deliciously good time with the supernatural. When else (okay, besides Trick-or-Treat
night) can the campers dress up like phantoms and hags and haunt large amounts
of people? And however morbid, stabbing victims and casting spells and dueling
for a crown is nothing less than a whole lot of fun for these actors--and
indeed for any actor. Put Macbeth on the stage and the
word "play" becomes both a noun and verb.
Get ready and get set for Birnam Wood to come to
Dunsinane tonight at Blackfriars Playhouse at 4:30 PM. These young actors will
remind the audience that no matter how serious the subject matter--and in Macbeth, events
do get rather serious--a "play" must always be an opportunity to
play.
I
come, Graymalkin!
-Lee
Ann Hoover, Education and Dramaturgy Intern
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