DSC's 'Macbeth' lacking character

I have to wonder if anyone will ever produce a Shakespeare show in the time era it was meant to be portrayed in. I know it's been the trend to set different Shakespeare plays in different times, but after so much of that particular fad, I'm thirsty for some authentic Bawdy Bard. I readily admit the idea of having Dixie State College's production of "Macbeth" set in Civil War era is creative, but it just needed something more. Perhaps having the show set in ancient Scotland? That being said, I am always impressed with any actor, especially one at a college level, who has the wherewithal to memorize three hours worth of Billy Shakespeare. Hannah Davenport, a sophomore integrated studies major from St. George, said the setting was a small obstacle to overcome in the development of her role, Lady Macbeth. "We've been rehearsing since November," Davenport said. "We've done a lot of text analysis [and] making sure we knew what we were saying [and] talking about character development and stuff. [Being set in the South has] totally changed a lot of the character interpretations. Lady Macbeth is a more tolerable Scarlet O'Hara." Davenport also compared the war-torn South to ancient Scotland, and the social implications both had. Travis Cox, a senior integrated studies major from St. George, played the title role and said it took him losing control to land the part of Macbeth. "(Director) Michael (Harding) said he wanted to see me lose control, because I've been really safe in past shows," Cox said. "We had set monologues to do, and there's a monologue where Macduff is... calling out Macbeth. It's funny how a Macduff monologue got me in. It was just pounding on the floor and screaming at the top of my lungs. It's something he's never seen from any of my characters in the past." Frank Bryant, a sophomore theater major from Las Vegas, played the character of Macbeth's rival, Macduff. Bryant incidentally is black, and that in and of itself posed an interesting approach to character development. Bryant said he tried to think of how people would view his character in those times, even though he was black. He said a black man in power was unheard of in those days, but after seeing the show I think he pulled it off superlatively. I was very impressed with the costuming as well, specifically Lady Macbeth's purple dress. The show is worth seeing for this dress alone. One of the bigger disappointments of the night was the characters of the three witches. These "weird sisters" were anything but weird. One of the reasons a person is willing to sit through a three-hour tragedy like "Macbeth" is to see characters like the three hags. Instead, we were given three girls: cute college girls. Instead of three freakish and old psycho grandmas, we were given three Disney characters the likes of the "Hocus Pocus" witches. I was saddened there wasn't a scary old woman element even tried in these characters. One might argue that having three scary old ladies (or at least three actresses done up to look like three scary old ladies) is cliché. However, I would argue that by setting the show in Civil War times, cliché has been successfully taken out of the equation. Would you have "Miracle on 34th Street" without Santa? I feel that by making the witches plainer, the characters were robbed of their greatness. I don't want to be skewed by any preconceived notions of what a Shakespearean character should be, but conversely a Shakespearean character needs to be something substantial. Add to that the odd habit of switching out the role of witch No. 3 through various points in the show, and we have a frightening element that almost ruined the show for me. After the play I talked with a group of kids from Tuacahn High School who said they enjoyed the show. Tuahcahn High School student Reece Thompson said he really enjoyed the show being set in the Civil War South. "I really liked the setting [and] it was different," he said. "It was really interesting to see them play off the whole Southern thing, and I just really enjoyed that. It really added more to the characters." Thompson agreed with his fellow Tuacahn students Taylor Holbrook and Sceri Ivers that "Macbeth" was a hit. However, after chatting with them for a few moments, I discovered they were good buddies with a large portion of the "Macbeth" cast. I can hope the praises they spoke were genuine, but I have to conclude their audience objectivity may have been compromised. Granted, there were some problems that can be chalked up to opening night issues, but I do think the show came together well. If I had one wish, though, it would be to give me my witches. "Macbeth" is playing on the Eccles Main Stage and will run through Friday. Tickets are $1 with student ID, $12 without.