Excellent production
a credit to WBHS’ cultural activities programme. (Review by Keith Millar)
The management of
Westville Boys High School should be commended for their unfailing support of
culture activities and, by extension, the performing arts. It is an environment
such as this that allows a school to be ambitious, innovative and adventurous
in the productions they tackle.
A case in point is
the school’s current production, William Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
The Director of
Culture Activities at WBHS, Luke Holder, is responsible for adapting and
directing this offering of Macbeth. He
has pulled out all stops, and gone big, to create a production and setting
which is original, imaginative and exciting.
The question is has
he succeeded? The answer is a resounding yes.
The stage of the
Roy Couzens Theatre was extended right down the centre of the venue with the
audience seated sideways on either side. This meant that most of the action was
up close and personal.
One of the
highlights of the production, and central to the atmosphere, was the heavy rain
which fell on the central section of the stage at regular and appropriate
intervals, Much of the action, including the excellently choreographed swordfights,
took place in this pouring rain.
Fire was also a
theme central to the production with the liberal use of candles and flaming torches.
Of particular note were the two magnificent steel and chain chandeliers which
hung from the ceiling.
Copious amounts of
stage blood were used as a metaphor of Macbeth’s violent and bloody reign as
the King of Scotland.
Holder has employed
a chorus of witches rather than the traditional three witches in this
production. It is a masterstroke and, for me, the performance highlight of the
play. Right from the moment they crawl out from under the stage - giving a near-heart
attack to those in the front row, including myself - these haggard witches are
a constant dark and malevolent presence. They are ever-present on stage, hiding
in corners, hissing and chanting like evil spirits. The “double, double toil
and trouble” scene is also wonderfully gory and foul.
It was a glorious
performance by all the girls and boys who played the witches.
The rest of the
action is traditional with actors in kilts and period costumes and speaking
Shakespeare’s original text. The cast of over 30 performers from WBHS and
Westville Girls High all put in wholehearted and confident performances and
seemed equal to the task of delivering the text in a convincing manner.
The technical
aspects of the production were also first-rate. The lighting and sound were handled
with aplomb, while the costumes and props – with special mention of the 12 authentic
looking steel Claymore swords - were top notch.
This production of Macbeth is
excellent and a credit to WBHS’ cultural activities programme. It must have
been enormous fun, and hugely educational, for all the young people who were
lucky enough to be involved in its staging.
Westville Boys High
Performing Arts will present two more major productions this year. In May there
will be a supper theatre presentation entitled You Can’t Stop the Beat which
is a tribute to stage and screen legends of the past 60 years. In August
the musical Guys and Dolls will be
staged. These are two events which may well be worth diarising.
Macbeth has one
more performance tomorrow night (February 13) at 19h00 in the Roy Couzens Theatre
at Westville Boys’ High School. This will take the format of a My Bloody Valentine Medieval Banquet and
all patrons are encouraged to dress in appropriate medieval garments! Tickets R300
per head. Bookings through Lyndy Coombe on 031 267 1330. – Keith Millar
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