Shakespeare in the nether world

November 13th, 2008  |  by  |  Published in Events

K.C. Odell (left) as Macbeth gets advice from Michelle Hurtubise as Lady Macbeth regarding what to do about Banquo, played by Futoshi Terashita

K.C. Odell (left) as Macbeth gets advice from Michelle Hurtubise as Lady Macbeth regarding what to do about Banquo, played by Futoshi Terashita

In the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Kennedy Theatre presentation of Macbeth Nov. 14–23, Assistant Professor Paul Mitri directs a multi-cultural/multi-lingual performance designed to shatter preconceived notions about Shakespeare’s classic tragedy of murder and ambition.

In Mitri’s version, characters fight over some of the last livable land on earth three generations following a catastrophe of global proportions. His concept builds on the quote: Foul whisperings are abroad. “This supports the notion that the ‘words in the wind’ set our souls on fire and we create our own hell,” says Mitri.

The set, designed by master’s candidate Chesley Cannon, is a timeless nether world between heaven and hell, above the heat and steam of flowing lava.

To prepare for the title role, theatre major K. C. Odell spent time in both the library, researching the character and the psychology of war, and the gym, to literally build the warrior. The cast also features Yoshi Okumura, a guest lecturer from Japan, as Duncan.

As part of Kennedy’s Page to Stage program, pre-show chats are offered at 7 p.m. in the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre with Mānoa Professor of English Valerie Wayne on Nov. 15 and Boston University Professor of English William Carroll on Nov. 22.

For tickets, visit eTicketHawaii.com.


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