Out, Out Damn Troops: Modern Macbeth at Long Center

Ciccolella has opted to set the piece in the now, which shakes down a couple of ways, some that work and some that could use some work. By outfitting soldiers in contemporary camouflage and offering some fairly brutal fight scenes, she makes it impossible not to contemplate the current US administration, its hubris and blood thirst, and the attendant senseless loss of life that accompanies war conducted by madmen who will stop at nothing for power. So that was great.

The set feels a little uneven. Very sparse, it is dotted with the sort of plastic chairs you might find in a doctor’s office. And for some of the performance what appears to be a massive, clear shower curtain is pulled around the perimeter. It’s not bad, just a little weird.

Speaking of weird, the three witches are outfitted in these super-fringy costumes that were a bit distracting at first, but admittedly offer a constant-motion ethereal air to their presence. Harvey Guion’s Duncan, however, is unfortunately dressed in a white leisure suit, calling to mind a cross between Don Johnson in "Miami Vice" and George Burns in "Oh God!" His rose colored glasses don’t help much, but perhaps they were intended for irony?

Ben Wolfe’s Macduff is commendable, as is Sean Martin’s drunken porter. Robert Matney is plenty spooky as the ghost of Banquo. Other nice touches—Macbeth and his lady communicate via text messages and also get in some good dry humping.

Worth seeing? Yes. Most especially because many of us have grown complacent about this war thing but, with Macbeth as our reminder, history, so sadly, too often does repeat.