Great Lakes Theater’s production of ‘Macbeth’ is crazy good

“Double, double toil and trouble: Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.” “By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.” “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” “Out damned spot! Out, I say!” “Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t.” “Lay on, Macduff, and damned be him that first cries, “Hold, enough!” “There’s daggers in men’s smiles.” “Nothing is but what is not.” “What’s done cannot be undone.”

Without a doubt, William Shakespeare is the most quoted writer in history and even over four centuries later we still ponder on his lines of brilliance. The above are all quotes from his epic play “Macbeth” or “The Scottish Play” as you are cautioned to call it while in the theater (to break the curse you must leave the building or at least the room where the “M” word was mentioned, spin around three time, spit, curse and then knock to be allowed back in).

Macbeth is a cautionary tale of how far someone will go to fulfill their “destiny” as free will battles against fate. The three Weird Sisters offer up ideas without instructions to a mentally unbalanced monarch wannabe while stepping back to watch the series of decisions Macbeth makes that lead to his downfall. His marriage is unstable thus he is easily swayed to commit murder. Lord and Lady Macbeth’s lives are full of grief, ambition and fear and their slow descent into madness takes place right in front of us.

The show begins with lightning and thunder in great abundance as the Weird Sisters (Kelsey Angel Baehrens, Jonathan Contreras and Angela Utrera) plan on meeting up with Macbeth (Jeffrey C. Hawkins), the Thane of Glamis. Following a great battle, King Duncan of Scotland is informed that his generals Banquo (Nick Steen) and Macbeth have defeated a rebellion led by the Thane of Cawdor who had allied with Norway and Ireland to take over the throne.

As Macbeth and Banquo wander the heath they come across the three Weird Sisters who hail Macbeth as not only “Thane of Glamis” but “Thane of Cawdor” and that he shall “Be king hereafter”. Banquo asks of his future and is told that he will be the father of kings but will not be one himself. As the Weird Sisters vanish the Thane of Ross arrives informing Macbeth that he is now also “Thane of Cawdor”. With this news, Macbeth begins to harbor ambitions to become king.

King Duncan arrives informing all that they will spend the night at Macbeth’s castle in Inverness and that his son Malcolm will be his official heir. Macbeth sends a letter to his wife telling about the Weird Sisters predictions. Lady Macbeth (Cassandra Bissell) hatches a plot to kill King Duncan in order to grab the crown. With Macbeth’s arrival, his wife convinces Macbeth to kill the king that very night by getting the king’s chamber attendants drunk and thus blaming them for the murder.

The deed is done but despite its success in make Macbeth king, he is uneasy about Banquo’s role in the prophecy. He invites the general to a banquet and learning of Banquo’s plan to ride out that night with his son Fleance (Marlowe Miller) Macbeth sets up an ambush that ends up killing Banquo but having Fleance escape. At the banquet, Macbeth plays host to his lords and ladies with an evening of drinking and merriment while Macduff has decided not to attend. Banquo’s ghost enters and sits in Macbeth’s place which sends Macbeth into a mad rage. This startles the guest until Lady Macbeth explains that it is the result of a harmless lifelong illness. The ghost meanwhile disappears then reappears causing Macbeth to experience the same psychotic episode. Lady Macbeth asks gently that their guests leave. Unknown to Macbeth, Macduff has traveled to England in order to find allies that will help him take back the Scottish throne.

The success of any production of “Macbeth” involves the “creep factor” and this production is as creepy as it gets. Kelsey Angel Baehrens, Jonathan Contreras and Angela Utrera as the Weird Sisters start right off the bat scaring the daylights out of everyone with their elaborate costuming and creaking body sound effects. Next is Jeffrey C. Hawkins and Cassandra Bissell as Lord and Lady Macbeth whose gradual descent into madness takes us all along for the ride. Avery LaMar Pope and Evan Stevens as the two hired assassins hired by Macbeth to do his dirty work are chillingly efficient. Everyone else is pretty normal but believe me there is enough craziness to go around.

With 13 actors portraying 26 rolls, costume designer Mieka van der Ploeg has her hands full. The stage design by Courtney O’Neill is sparsely functional and brilliantly constructed with loads of secret doors and hatches. Rick Martin’s lighting works hard to maintain the creepy mood. Matthew Webb’s sound design brings forth the strange special sound effects and interim music that keeps us on edge. Movement director Jaclyn Miller keeps everyone on track and Christopher DuVal’s fight scenes are superb. The show is aptly directed by Sara Bruner.

If the three Weird Sisters aren’t enough to creep you out and give you bad dreams, Lord and Lady Macbeth will take you further down the road to Bonkersville. For fans of the macabre this show has all the elements and keeps the tension tight throughout with little touches of comedy to keep you off balance. The very last scene with the Weird Sisters and the new King will definitely raise your neck hairs. This productions is indeed something wicked this way comes.

The Great Lakes Theater’s production of “Macbeth” will be on stage in the Hanna Theatre at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio through April 4, 2026. for more information and tickets go to https://www.greatlakestheater.org/ or call (216) 241-6000.