By: Myleigh Lanham<\/p>\n
The 2016-17 MWSU theatre season<\/a> continued with the production of Shakespeare\u2019s<\/a> famous work, \u201cMacbeth.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n The production used minimal stage effects but was full of unique aspects, like director Tee Quillin\u2019s unusual casting choices. The cast was predominantly female, with a woman playing the main male character. Shira Murphy led with the role of Macbeth, while Antonio Daniels-Braziel played as Lady Macbeth.<\/span><\/p>\n Unlike the Shakespearean days, MWSU\u2019s production is a reversed tribute to the play. Back then, women weren\u2019t allowed onstage. Instead, male actors were cast in multiple roles, and played both male and female parts. <\/span><\/p>\n Antonio Daniels-Braziel is a theatre major and a familiar face on the Western stage. He said the experience of him ever having to gender-swap again in his career is incredibly low so he was happy to have the chance.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t too much of a challenge, I just had to remind myself not to act like a man playing a woman and expel gender all together by just playing the character,\u201d Daniels-Braziel said.<\/span><\/p>\n Many hours were spent preparing for the performance. Junior Abby Sexton, who played multiple parts in the play, rehearsed on and off the stage to learn her character. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere is a lot of character development because each character has its own thought process,\u201d Sexton said. \u201cIt\u2019s kind of hard to go from one to the other so quickly because you have to immediately get into the mindset of that other character.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n However, Sexton added that it\u2019s fun to have a different thought process of the storyline and be able to see the show from different character\u2019s<\/span><\/p>\n perspectives.<\/span><\/p>\n Sexton also said that she hoped the audience would take away an enjoyable show. <\/span><\/p>\n With its Shakespearean language, it can sure capture an audience\u2019s attention. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI hope the audience walks away from this show realizing that not all theatre is glitter and bubblegum,\u201d Sexton said. \u201cThere are those dramatic stories, and especially with it being Shakespeare, I really just want them to walk away enjoying the story that we are telling.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Audience member, Cami Pendleton, watched as her friends performed and enjoyed the show.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe gender roles were swapped which was really cool,\u201d Pendleton said. \u201cThe cast just had this energy that was really great; it was awesome.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The production of \u201cMacbeth\u201d is a story about a Scottish general, Macbeth, who is enticed with power and responsibility. After a trio of witches inform Macbeth he will become king, Lady Macbeth tells him he must murder King Duncan and he seizes the throne. The murder drives Macbeth mad, causing him to become a tyrannical ruler and commit murder after murder. The murder spree catapulted Lady Macbeth\u2019s and Macbeth\u2019s deaths.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t