Luisa Bernardino

Matthew Bigham and Rohan Basu, who play Macbeth and Macduff, respectfully, fight to the death towards the end of the play, determining the fate of Scotland.

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Luisa Bernardino

Matthew Bigham and Rohan Basu, who play Macbeth and Macduff, respectfully, fight to the death towards the end of the play, determining the fate of Scotland.

On Nov. 6, 7, and 8 at 7 pm in the auditorium, Metea will be performing their annual fall play, which this year is Macbeth. The play is directed by English teacher Matthew Wolski and involves a hardworking cast, with Matthew Bigham playing the lead character, Macbeth.  

Macbeth is a Shakespearean play about a Scottish general who attempts to kill the king. The play is a tragedy as it focuses on Macbeth’s downfall caused by his great ambition, still motivating, nonetheless. Wolski talks about why people should come to watch the play.

“It is the original drama, ” Wolski said, “A classic that everyone should see and can relate to when it comes to fighting for what we want.”

Wolski chose this play because the themes are still very important today. Wolski’s message to students is to understand how quickly a good person can become evil when they want too much power. Even though the language is old, Macbeth’s story of ambition and fear easily relates to high school students. Wolski has been very impressed with how hard the cast and crew have worked to bring the world of ancient Scotland to life.

“We gave the actors ways to handle this challenge, like recording their lines and practicing where they need to stand while they memorize their script, but it is always a difficult task,” Wolski said.

Lead actor Matthew Bigham implies that Shakespeare’s writing is special because the characters often speak their thoughts out loud. When a character is alone on stage, they tell the audience exactly how they are feeling.

“What makes a performance of ‘Macbeth’… special is the writing itself,” Bigham said. “The characters don’t hide their thoughts or feelings; they always speak their minds directly.”

Bigham believes that being part of a play is a valuable experience for everyone, not just the people acting on stage, claiming that the tech crew has as much of a prominent role as the actors do. The play could not have happened without the students who work on stage and all the technology behind the scenes.

“It’s a really worthwhile experience, even if you don’t act in the play,” Bigham said. “It’s fantastic to help out with the technology and stage work, because the technical side is just as important as the actors.” 

Wolski believes that “Macbeth” is the greatest kind of drama and a story that will always matter. It’s a classic for a reason, and students are bringing the important message to life.

“This play is the ultimate drama and a timeless classic,” Wolski said. “It’s a story that everyone should watch because we can all relate to the theme of struggling to get what we desire.”