Macbeth
Macbeth was finally performed on Eagle Rock high school's stage, and this Macbeth was far different from any other. It was an Asian-style play with 80's music in the background. It began with an unexpected, massive battle; a Norwegian invasion of Scotland. But Macbeth and Banquo bravely defended their country as told by the sergeant (Violet Ruiz). Macbeth encountered three witches that foresaw his future and predicted his rise to higher rank and eventually to the position of king of Scotland. It occurred perfectly in concert with the sinister plot by Lady Macbeth, the plot to murder and depose the king.
Carlo Estella did an exceptional job playing the role of Macbeth. The same must be said for Melissa Chan; in her performance as lady Macbeth, she reached a depth of character that can only be described as Julliard-worthy. It brought chills to the audience when she delivered her "out, out damned spot" speech, sinking the character deep into an inescapable and mortal insanity.
The fighting was far beyond expectations; it caught every eye in the audience with the skillful use of real wakizashi and katana swords. For the last final battle, Macbeth and Macduff dueled to the death in a brilliant fight scene that was full to bursting with suspense. Raisa Donato, playing the role of Macduff and on posters around Eagle Rock, gave an outstanding performance in killing the villain Macbeth. The fight and stunt choreographers Ri Walton and Dennis McLaughlin. They spent plenty of hours disciplining the actors and making all the arrangements of the blazing fight scenes while still managing to keep safety as the first priority.
The dancers added yet another unique element to the play with their 80s-inspired movements choreographed by Jacky Puumala. There were dressed as "Harajuku Girls" a bizarre breed of female in Japan fond of wearing overtly-colorful, tacky clothing. They performed in between and during scenes to help establish mood and acted as the evil spirit permeating the play.
The set was constructed with assistance from Matthew Russell and Kristen Merlino of Warner Brothers studios. They coached the students on every aspect of set-building, creating a modular, minimalist work of art, which, when bathed in the expertly-done lights, created the perfect atmosphere for the show.
The costumes further made the play a feast for the eyes, generously loaned out by East-West Players. Each character was imbued with personality, and the costumers, Ruth Quevedo, Susy Barraza, Kyana Gagnon, Keva Munday, spent countless hours designing, sewing and tailoring the costumes to fit each actor. Makeup brought the whole package together and cemented the genre of the play. The director's wife, Carla Copley, masterminded the vibrant display and slaved to make the cast look utterly fantastic.
The play was produced and directed by Russell Copley, a very respected teacher and second father to the students of Eagle Rock Stage. He worked with unparalleled fervor and made it possible for the students to show their artistic abilities on stage. He has created a piece of art and brought professional theatre to the community through a troop of high school students for only $10 a ticket. Such a feat can be described only as miraculous and the deepest of congratulations go out to Mr. Copley and the entire company.
