London actors bring Shakespeare play to life

By Amy O'Shea

Staff Writer

Publication Date: 09/20/2007

Five actresses and actors coming to Purdue from the London area will take on 27 characters of Shakespeare's shortest tragedy, "Macbeth."

The actors are traveling around the United States on a 10-week tour with the company Actors From the London Stage. They produce and direct the play themselves.

"I have six parts," said Charlotte Allam, an actress from Surrey, England. "I play everything from Malcolm to a murderer. Even Macbeth has multiple roles."

The small framed blonde woman, who is cast in a primary male role, explained that this performance of "Macbeth" is unusual in that all five actors stay on stage the entire time. They only add or remove bits of their costume for each character.

Kristine Holtvedt, associate professor of theater, said, "It's very full of action and mystery, witchcraft and ghosts, fights and gore. It was one of (Shakespeare's) most popular plays; I think the students will enjoy it a lot."

The Actors From the London Stage are speaking in a variety of classes throughout Purdue this week, leading up to their performances. Each of the actors will be talking to communication, theater appreciation, acting and English literature classes. The company is focused on education, as well as preserving the integrity of Shakespeare's script.

"It's quite challenging and it requires a lot of responsibility," said Allam. "We don't rely on sets or costumes or music. It's really all about the story, unlike any �Macbeth' performance (Purdue students) have ever seen."

"It really brings the play to the actor and the spoken word," Holtvedt said. "When you take away all that spectates of sound and scenery, you focus more on the actor, which is really exciting."

Allam encourages even those unfamiliar with Shakespeare to attend the performance.

"'Macbeth has everything: power, sex, murder, witches. It all goes pretty fast," Allam said.

Purdue will be hosting Actors from the London Stage in their performance of "Macbeth" at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Loeb Playhouse. Tickets are available at the Stewart Center Box Office at $26 for the general public and $19 for students.