“Fair is foul, and foul is fair,” and St. Thomas Aquinas High School’s dark, riveting performance of “Macbeth” proves just how easily prophecies mislead.
“Macbeth” is a classic tragic play written by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606 during the reign of King James I. Set in Scotland and England, Scottish general Macbeth receives a manipulative prophecy from a trio of old witches that he will some day become King. Overwhelmed with ambition and violence, and influenced by his wife, Macbeth goes on a rampage of murders to take his place on the throne. The story reveals the truth and danger behind prophecies, and what turned Macbeth from a dependable general to a jealous, megalomaniac king.
Holding the dagger of fate and violent intent, Cody Straka intricately portrayed Macbeth in a captivatingly power-hungry performance. Straka’s authentic descent into insanity throughout the show was undergone with a formidable execution, demonstrating clear inner conflict that was both daunting and believable. The genuine, devoted chemistry between Straka and his Lady Macbeth, played by Juliana Bohm, displayed their mutual murderous madness. Bohm flawlessly conveyed a range of expressions that showcased her unshakable devotion for Macbeth and her ruthless desire to be queen, embodying Lady Macbeth’s fierce hunger for power and schemes for bloody rule.
Amid the chaos, Malcomina emerges as the force of restoration and rightful order. Portraying the character, Avery Patterson showed remarkable commitment to the true heir of the king, developing throughout the play from a closed-off, quiet daughter to a powerful, strategic upcoming ruler. A man of strong morals and ending Macbeth’s tyranny, Ethan Schaefer, playing MacDuff, had noteworthy knightly physicality, enhancing his final confrontation with Macbeth with skilled fight choreography and heartfelt devotion.
“Double double, toil and trouble,” the Witches conjured a mesmerizing performance of fluid movements and charming stage presence. Through persistent use of space and commitment to aerial silks, the Witches, consisting of Valentina Clemente, Olivia Gonzalez, and Juliana Leith, exhibited skill in choreography and understanding of their fateful intentions, spilling prophecies of deceptiveness and mystique. Nicolas Barreiros Plata, as Banquo, expressed a haunting transformation into the ghostly figure, his chilling expressions amplifying Macbeth’s unraveling paranoia.
The technical aspects in the show were nothing short of bewitching. The special effects team, consisting of Victoria Patten and stage crew, created an immaculate replica of Macbeth’s severed head, using 3D printed materials, giving the moment a realistic gruesome approach. The Props team should also be commended for their detailed creations that took inspiration from mangrove trees and natural environment, effectively bringing the audience into the forested kingdom of the story.
St. Thomas Aquinas High School’s “Macbeth” stirred a spellbinding brew filled with committed performers, masterful technical elements, and chilling intensity that left the audience questioning whether fate is forged or foretold.
by Alexis Adler of Cooper City High School
