VIENNA — This year the Vienna Union Hall Association will present the Theater at Monmouth’s on-the-road production of “Macbeth” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. This production is part of “Shakespeare in American Communities,” a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. This will be the third time the Theater at Monmouth troupe has traveled to Vienna to perform.

The plays presented throughout the state of Maine have been shortened and edited to make them more accessible to people who may not have had the opportunity to attend a Shakespearean production. The dialog is original Shakespeare but some scenes have been shortened and the plays are often presented in modern dress.

After the play the there is an opportunity for the audience to discuss the play and ask questions of the performers.

“Macbeth” this year is adapted and directed by Heidi Handelsman who is a New York-based freelance theatre director. She recently completed her MFA at Brown University / Trinity Rep.

The story of Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s best known. Nobody ever believes roadside fortunetellers but what if their prophecies started to come true? How far would you go to attain all they promised? Kill a king? A friend? A child? Three mysterious outsiders compel the kingdom’s champion to commit treason, rebellion, and regicide.

Hallucinations become real and daylight hides its face as blind ambition contorts Macbeth into one of Shakespeare’s bloodiest butchers

To prepare for understanding and enjoyment of the play, Dr. Misty Beck will offer a free talk and discussion for those who would like to “buff-up” on ”

” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, at the Union Hall. Beck  is a lecturer in Environmental Studies (Humanities) and a writing specialist at Bates College. She taught her first courses in Shakespeare while in graduate school at Washington University in St. Louis in the 1990s, and more recently while a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Maine Farmington. Beck published an article on Shakespeare and film (2012), and led last year’s discussion of “Twelfth Night” for the Union Hall.

Tickets prices are $7 paid in advance, $10 at the door. The discussion/talk on Thursday evening is free. For more information, contact call 207-293-2674, 207-293-2670 or email viennaunionhall@gmail.com.


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