The Bitter Winds Of Macbeth Swirl Through Moapa Valley

By CATHERINE ELLERTON

Moapa Valley Progress

The Utah Shakespeare Festival’s production of Macbeth kicked off the Shakespeare-in-the-Schools Spring Tour in Moapa Valley. The group will be presenting 75 performances from now until the end of April throughout Nevada, Arizona, Utah and California. The first of these took place in the Mack Lyon Middle School auditorium on Monday, Jan. 28.

The story of murder leading to more murder which slowly erodes the sanity of Macbeth and his wife was captivating due to the hard work of the production staff including Director Michael Bahr and Technical Director Casey Duke who designed each set to add to uncertainty and downfall of the character’s minds.

Talented actors played the part of multiple characters throughout the production. This required them to develop the many personality traits of each character and to be quick change artists as well. For example, Lady Macbeth was played well by Stefanie Resnick who also played one of the Witches and in various ensemble groups throughout the performance.

The troupe of performers also presented lessons to Moapa Valley High School students during their Outreach Program used on stage. Students were directed in lessons on theater speech including the meter of the text, figurative language, language ballet and the interaction with one another that brings each character their unique personality. Students even learned the skills behind a successful stage fight which required eye contact, judging distance and preparation as well as acting and reacting.

Outreach Program teachers included Stage Manager Austin Andrews who has been involved in backstage production since high school and has his BFA from Southern Utah University.

Joining Andrews in the program was Abigail Nakken who developed a love of storytelling in first grade. Her first professional show was at the age of eight when she appeared in a production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” Jennifer Vosters, Karen Thorla and Cordell Cole also assisted with the program by adding years worth of experience and education.

Throughout Monday night’s performance, the audience was skillfully brought in to participate by clapping hands, dancing on stage or finishing speeches.

Following the play, the actors came to the front of the stage and conducted a question and answer time with the audience. It was revealed that the music used in one segment of the play was “Thunderstruck” by ACDC. When the actors were asked what the hardest part of the tour was, one of the answers was the “loading in and out of the sets.”

These performances are sponsored in part by MVPAC, Individual Partners for the Arts which include Nevada Arts Council, America First Credit Union, Grant and Laurel Bushman, Moapa Valley Telephone Company, Moapa Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Board of County Commissioners.