THE SCOTTISH PLAY - Studio 1482 Illustration

THE SCOTTISH PLAY

Last night I attended the panoramic performance of “the Scottish play”, Macbeth, put on by the New York Classical Theatre. They are giving free outdoor performances in Battery Park every evening at 7 pm through August 20th. (One of the perks of summers in NYC are these kinds of events.) It was a beautiful evening and I was in perfect company with Margaret Hurst and Julia Sverchuk, who were also drawing (and chasing) the show, as it moved from one part of the park to another.

What an amazing production and cast! They really brought the words of Shakespeare to life. I could not stop drawing the actor’s faces, such expression, it was amazing. I laughed, I cried, and I got chills at the evil plotting between Macbeth and his Lady. Brilliant. Below are some drawings from the night:

All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter! (1.3.51-53)

When you durst do it, then you were a man. (1.7.49)

Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires:
The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be,
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. (1.4.55-60)

Come, you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here (1.5.40-41)

Is that a dagger which I see before me? (2.1.33)

A little water clears us of this deed. (2.2.68)

Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? (2.2.62) What’s done is done. (3.2.14)

Double, double toil and trouble,

Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. (4.1.10-11)

Out, damned spot! (5.1.25)

Who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him? (5.1.29-30)

Alas, poor country! [Scotland]
Almost afraid to know itself. It cannot
Be called our mother, but our grave, where nothing,
But who knows nothing, is once seen to smile;
Where sighs and groans and shrieks that rend the air
Are made, not marked; where violent sorrow seems
A modern ecstasy. (4.3.166-173)

Turn, hellhound, turn! (5.8.3)

Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until
Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill
Shall come against him. (4.1.96-98)
— — — —
The production is beautifully directed by Stephen Burdman, and stars the powerful Will Dixon as Macbeth, and the amazingly emotive Jenny Strassburg as Lady Macbeth. All of the actors were wonderful: I really recommend this experience. If you are in NYC it’s a must!
(all quotes obtained from Sparknotes)
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