Witches, kings, heirs and traitors prepare to set the stage on Oct. 2–5 for five performances of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” in Xavier Hall. Students auditioned within the first few days of classes and have been hard at work since.
“There is sword fighting. There is dance. There will be a ton of light and sound cues,” said Nancy Bell, the director of the production who has been a professor of theater at Saint Louis University for 15 years. “I’m fortunate that our student actors and crew are as passionate as I am about the sheer thrill of bringing a classic story like this to life.”
“Macbeth”—also called “the Scottish Play” in theaters for the superstitious belief that its title brings bad luck—famously follows the corruption of a man desperate to take and maintain the throne. Bloody and ominous, the play features iconic moments such as the three witches’ incantation and Macbeth’s monologue about an imagined dagger.
The production presents some unique challenges as a Shakespearean play. “The first step in understanding Shakespeare is that you’ve got to understand the context of the scene,” said Arjun Swaroop, who plays Macbeth. “It’s kind of like a different language. I’ve got to somehow translate it to English.”
Despite this, embodying Macbeth requires the same consideration and commitment as other roles. “To be in that character, you need a lot of physicality. Macbeth isn’t gonna move how I move,” Swaroop said.
Macbeth’s ever-pertinent warnings against corruption contributed greatly to its selection. “We are living in a dangerous time of multiple wars, genocide, the erosion of democracy, the rise of oligarchy, fascism and political violence. We are doing ‘Macbeth’ to hold a mirror up to all that and to provide a positive vision of courageous leadership and communal action,” Nancy Bell said.
Audiences shouldn’t leave the theater with only memories of monologues and murders as the show’s messages are rich and urgent. Bell views the play as ultimately hopeful despite its dark overtones. “It’s a powerful assertion of the triumph of divine justice and humankind’s capability to conquer the darkness,” Bell said.
Actors took the show as a unique opportunity for growth and new friendships. “It’s fun because in all these other things—chess, tennis—you would compete against each other. With theater, you’re a unit. You’re a collective,” Swaroop said. “Everyone has their moments. And it’s like, ‘If you can’t do your thing, I can’t do mine, so let’s help each other.’” From helping castmates with lines to Swaroop’s inclusion of a “hi mom!” in every program, traditions and memories in theater build community like nothing else.
Performances will be on Oct. 2-4 at 7 p.m., Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. and Oct. 5 at 1 p.m. Tickets cost $10 for students and will be available on MetroTix up until the performance times.
