Idle Muse Theatre returns to its origin story with the re-crafted and remounted WHAT THE WEIRD SISTERS SAW.
Fifteen years ago Artistic Director Evan Jackson and Tristan Brandon adapted Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Jackson and Brandon’s tale tells the legendary tragedy from the perspective of the three witches. They create the backstory of the prophecy that sets Macbeth on his ill-fated quest for power. The psychic sisters leave the caldron behind as they piece together visions to determine the future. They grapple with Macbeth’s destiny and their role in it. Are the spirits guiding them to be spectators or participants?
Jackson, doubling as director, cleverly makes the sisters (Caty Gordon, Jennifer Mohr and Jamie Redwood) the focal point. Although they are united in their love for Scotland, Murron (played by a fierce Gordon) is conflicted. Her affinity to Macbeth (played by Joel Thompson) makes her see him as the righteous ruler. Gordon proposes they visit the supernatural realm to investigate further. Dana (played by the steadfast Mohr) is resistant to interfere in history but relents after Alastriona (played by an enduring Redwood) agrees to the venture. This coven is strong as they try to protect their homeland. Together, the trio do captivate with sisterly synergy.
WHAT THE WEIRD SISTERS SAW is a montage of snippets from the Scottish play interspersed with the witches’ interpretations -and often misinterpretations- to what is going on. Although tension is missing because of the original play’s well-known outcome, Assistant Director and Violence Designer Libby Beyreis effectively punctuates the story with abrupt clashes of fighting. As the sisters muse and debate the visions, Beyreis brutally attacks keeping inhumanity as a foregone conclusion.
Jackson’s homage to Macbeth’s witches is inventive. He uses the return of his inaugural production to showcase the Idle regulars, including; a haunting Mara Kovacevic (Lady Macbeth), an amusing Brendan Hutt and the always intriguing Elizabeth MacDougald.
Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and caldron bubble. WHAT THE WEIRD SISTERS SAW is brewing up its own kind of homespun magic.
Running Time: One hundred minutes includes an intermission
At Edge Off-Broadway Theatre, 1133 W. Catalpa
Based on William Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Macbeth”
Adapted by Evan Jackson and Tristan Brandon
Directed by Evan Jackson
Performances are:
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8pm
Sundays at 3pm
Thru April 14th
For more information or tickets
Production photos by Steven Townshend/Distant Era
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