Macbeth

Reviewed by Rebecca Haithcoat

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Perhaps as a country, or a growing segment of it, we’ve become repelled by religion. Still, there’s no doubt we’re damn near magnetized by the idea of evil and how it’s manifested. Consider how often that depth is being plumbed: the recent runaway success of HBO’s True Detective, in which a cop’s sole goal for 12 years is to root out the leader of a murderous cult. The last season of American Horror Story: Coven showcases a battle between witches and those who practice voodoo. House of Cards, from my cursory viewing, seems cribbed straight from Macbeth. We’re tethered to the dark side, as we’ve been through the millennia, with what it makes us do, with the internal power struggle between good and evil. 

A Noise Within’s solid new production of one of Shakespeare’s grimmest tragedies plays into that historic, gothic obsession. Set in Scotland, the play follows General Macbeth (Elijah Alexander) as three witches prophesy that he will become king. Incited by his wife (Jules Wilcox) and bloated with narcissism, he kills King Duncan (Matt Orduna) and takes the throne. But one murder begets another to cover. Finally, the body count has so multiplied, King and Lady M can no longer bear the weight of their sins and descend into paranoia and madness.

Director Larry Carpenter plays it straight and sticks to the script, which, if a little staid, is fine since he has the excellent Alexander on hand as Macbeth. While Alexander looks strapping—and like a thicker, darker Bradley Cooper—he lacks a bit of animal heat, which might be why the very welcome, highly sexualized staging of his relationship with his Lady doesn’t pulse as it should. But he makes up for it with an impressive, clear read of the character. (Anyone who can make such famous speeches sound fresh deserves applause.)

Yet it’s the eerie-voiced actor Amin El Gamal who most engrosses. Shapeshifting from witch to Macbeth’s muscle, he seems truly otherworldly, a mysterious force who floats instead of walks. He seems untroubled by his black deeds, a human body with an inhuman spirit. Of course he’s the most fascinating character on stage.

 A Noise Within, 3352 East Foothill Blvd., Pasadena; in rep, call for schedule; through May 11. (626) 356-3100, www.anoisewithin.org