AGAIN, TROUBADOUR MAKES SHAKESPEARE FUN.Byline: Julio Martinez Correspondent HOUSED AT Santa Monica's Miles Playhouse for a limited run, that irreverent band of modern day commedia dell'arte players, the Troubadour troubadour One of a class of lyric poets and poet-musicians, often of knightly rank, that flourished from the 11th through the 13th century, chiefly in Provence and other regions of southern France, northern Spain, and northern Italy. Theater Company, has once again proven that a Shakespeare plot can stand up against anything, even a generous infusion of tunes from Fleetwood Mac. Having honed his craft with such Bard stepchildren as ``All's Kool That Ends Kool,'' ``Romeo Hall & Juliet Oates'' and ``12th Dog Night,'' Troubadour founder Matt Walker again leads his wildly dedicated troupe of players, dancers and musicians into the breach. This time out they take on the misguided Scottish nobleman Macbeth, portrayed with Sean Connery-like aplomb by Morgan Rusler, and his helpful mate in dastardly das·tard·ly adj. Cowardly and malicious; base. das  tard·li·ness n. deeds, Lady Macbeth, hilariously enacted by power-lunged Liza Valenzuela. The plot actually manages to move along at a relatively brisk pace, despite the outrageously loose adaptation, liberally injected with commedia shtick, impressively staged slapstick battle scenes, improvised audience interaction and a slew of contemporary references, including turning Macduff (Guillermo Robles Robles is a common surname in the Spanish language meaning oaks, and may refer to:
n. Slang 1. A male friend or acquaintance from one's neighborhood or hometown. 2. A fellow male gang member. homeboy Noun slang 1. with the title of The Thane thane n. 1. a. A freeman granted land by the king in return for military service in Anglo-Saxon England. b. A man ranking above an ordinary freeman and below a nobleman in Anglo-Saxon England. 2. of Eastside. Walker does double duty as the show's narrator NARRATOR. A pleader who draws narrs serviens narrator, a sergeant at law. Fleta, 1. 2, c. 37. Obsolete. and as a wild-eyed Banquo. Walker and Rusler offer one of the first act's musical highlights as Banquo encourages his friend Macbeth to heed the witches' advice to move up the royal ladder to the tune of ``Go Your Own Way.'' The comedically over-the-top Walker also runs rampant through Macbeth's coronation banquet as the ghost of the murdered Banquo. There are not three but eight all-singing, all-dancing witches led by masterfully mirthful mirth·ful adj. 1. Full of gladness and gaiety. 2. Characterized by or expressing gladness and gaiety: a warm, tender, and mirthful movie. Troubadour vet Beth Kennedy as Hecate. Their second act cauldron antics are effectively performed to the tune of Fleetwood Mac's ``The Chain.'' Also turning in solid performances are Charles Klausmeyer as the lascivious las·civ·i·ous adj. 1. Given to or expressing lust; lecherous. 2. Exciting sexual desires; salacious. [Middle English, from Late Latin lasc but droll King Duncan, Guilford Adams' flamboyantly effeminate Prince Malcolm and Mike Suprizio's rollerblading turn as Macbeth's gleefully murderous henchman Seyton (pronounced Satan). The only wavering portion of the production is the decibel decibel (dĕs`əbĕl', –bəl), abbr. dB, unit used to measure the loudness of sound. It is one tenth of a bel (named for A. G. Bell), but the larger unit is rarely used. balance between the on-stage performers and the house band led by bassist/musical director Andre Holmes. The inconsistent sound reinforcement often left the ensemble vocals inaudible as the band blasted through such numbers as ``Landslide'' and ``Don't Stop.'' Nothing could overpower Valenzuela as she took over the show with her laser-like rendering of the Stevie Nicks hit, ``Dreams.'' Following its stay at the Miles Playhouse, ``Fleetwood Macbeth'' will move on to the Ojai Shakespeare Festival August 9-10 (10 a.m.), for a two-performance run at Ojai's Libby Bowl. FLEETWOOD MACBETH - Three stars Where: Miles Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica. When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday; through Aug. 2. Tickets: $10 to $15. Call (310) 979-7196. In a nutshell: The zanies from Troubadour Theater Company have once again melded a Bard plot with a rock icon to hilarious effect. |
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