Something wicked this way comes.

Wicked good, that is.

While the wordplay should perhaps be left to Shakespeare, it is true that the drama students of Belmont secondary school are bringing a unique and highly professional version of Macbeth to the school stage.

BelmontB次元官网网址檚 interpretation of the play sees Macbeth hungry for power in a post-apocalyptic future, where technology has been destroyed and its remnants are feared and misunderstood.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e so connected to technology, that is such an important part of our lives,B次元官网网址� director Melissa Young said. B次元官网网址淚 definitely think the play is relevant, regardless of where we set it. But I wanted it to be accessible to students.B次元官网网址�

This theme of technologyB次元官网网址檚 influence on our lives runs throughout the play.

Even the playB次元官网网址檚 famous witches live in a shack made of remnants of cell phones and electronics, which they also drop into their spell cauldron, along with the usual eye of newt, toe of frog etc.

Macbeth is being put on by the Belmont Senior Acting Company, a group of 31 dedicated drama students who had to audition to join the year-long course.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 focused on performance and itB次元官网网址檚 aimed at students who are passionate about performing arts or want to pursue this as a career,B次元官网网址� teacher Melissa Young said. B次元官网网址淭hese kids, theyB次元官网网址檙e working really hard.B次元官网网址�

In the lead role is Nick Powell, a Grade 12 student, a longtime drama student taking on BelmontB次元官网网址檚 advanced acting program for the first time.

B次元官网网址淢acbeth is the kind of man who would do anything to get the certain thing that he wants,B次元官网网址� Powell said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 incredibly fun to play. B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檓 not really an angry kind of person, so itB次元官网网址檚 very interesting and challenging for me to branch out that way.B次元官网网址�

In his first year in any drama program, Justin Lavoie, Grade 11, is playing the part of Macduff, the Thane of Fife, paradoxically both the antagonist and the hero of the play.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a totally new experience,B次元官网网址� Lavoie said. B次元官网网址淛ust getting into the role of a character and really getting to play it out, itB次元官网网址檚 an amazing feeling.B次元官网网址�

Both said the Shakespearian English was hard to wrap their tongues around at first, but with practice came a sense of the rhythm and eventual mastery.

B次元官网网址淓specially with so many lines to memorize,B次元官网网址� Powell said. B次元官网网址淏ut when youB次元官网网址檙e on stage and you have memorized the lines and youB次元官网网址檝e gotten it all right, it really is a powerful feeling.B次元官网网址�

Young said the young thespians are doing well and the play is coming together nicely.

B次元官网网址�(ItB次元官网网址檚) a fast-paced thrill ride, I have to say,B次元官网网址� Young said. B次元官网网址淓specially when we get into Act 2 and we have a series of fight scenes, it just moves.B次元官网网址�

As for the old theatrical superstition that you should not speak the name of B次元官网网址渢he Scottish playB次元官网网址� while putting on a production, Young believes she found a loophole.

B次元官网网址淚 told them on the first day of rehearsal that because this isnB次元官网网址檛 a traditional theatre, because I think at one point it was an auto shop, that we can say the name,B次元官网网址� Young said. B次元官网网址淣othingB次元官网网址檚 happened to me yet, no light has fallen on me.B次元官网网址�

kwells@goldstream

gazette.com