Moya O’Connell and Ben Carlson in Macbeth; photo by David Cooper
By Brittany Tiplady
@yellowbird888
“Double, double toil and trouble: Fire burn, and cauldron bubble!” The 29th Season of Bard on Beach opened to the public on Sunday, June 17 with a bloody, spectacular, and gripping performance of Macbeth directed by Chris Abraham.
Ben Carlson as Macbeth took the opening night audience on a tumultuous journey through Macbeth’s emotional turmoil, his overzealous nature, straight through to his gory demise. Veteran actor Moya O’Connell once again captured audiences with a flawless and raw performance as Lady Macbeth.
However, actors Emma Slipp, Kate Besworth, and Harveen Sandhu stole the show as the “three weird sisters,” most commonly known as the three witches. Creepy, convincing and incredibly captivating, their roles in Macbeth punctuated the play with their intense, savage energy. And of course, the supporting cast Craig Erickson as Banquo, Andrew Wheeler as Maduff, Scott Bellis as Duncan and Jeff Gladstone as Malcolm, bolstered the show with powerful monologues, fluid fight scenes, and just a pinch of humour.
Attending the annual Bard On The Beach Shakespeare Festival is a celebrated summer tradition for many and rightfully so. This year, headlining the festival alongside Macbeth is As You Like It, directed by Daryl Cloran. Opening Friday, June 22, As You Like It is a playful, “Beatles-infused” play set in 1960s Vancouver.
“For me, setting As You Like It in 1960s Vancouver felt like the perfect fit for Bard on the Beach,” says Cloran. “When I think of that time period, I feel an immense connection between The Beatles’ early music and the storyline of the play. The 25 Beatles songs we’ve chosen lend themselves perfectly to this romantic and spiritual story. The transition of The Beatles through the ‘60s is reminiscent of the free-spirited journey of the play’s main characters and the social and cultural evolution of Vancouver during that time. I was also inspired by memories of All-Star Wrestling in the heart of Vancouver – and I realized we could incorporate the laid-back environment of the Okanagan in the ‘60s to represent Shakespeare’s Forest of Arden.”
Also found this year at Bard is Timon Of Athens opening June 26 and Lysistrata opening July 6 both found on the Howard Family Stage at the Douglas Campbell Theatre.
The entire Bard On The Beach festival runs until September 22, with Macbeth and As You Like It on the BMO Mainstage under the iconic white tents at Vanier Park.
Ticket prices for all regular play performances start at $24 CAD. Early booking is recommended for best seat selection, as many performances sell out in advance. The full performance schedule, site information and play and special events details are on the Bard website at bardonthebeach.org. To book tickets, order online through the Bard website or call the Bard Box Office at 604-739-0559or (toll free) 1-877-739-0559.
Brittany Tiplady is a writer, editor, ballet teacher, and the co-founder of Loose Lips Magazine. She loves the indoors, fast wifi, collecting maps, and a generous glass of red wine. She’s a self-proclaimed wizard of time management and a notorious loud talker with a penchant for all things Internet and pop culture.
