A Confident, Evocative ‘Macbeth’ in O.C.

Shakespeare Orange County’s (SOC) handsome staging of “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” which opened Friday at the Waltmar Theatre, brings a ceremonial richness to Shakespeare’s stark, swift and bloody drama of evil incarnate. But that is not the only icing on this substantial cake.

With the two key ingredients in place--a confident performance from Carl Reggiardo as the heroic Scottish warrior Macbeth, whose conflicting motives are written all over him, and sterling support from Jeanna Cole, a fine actor who brings the smoldering, viperish Lady Macbeth to nuanced life--director Thomas F. Bradac and his creative team have come up winners.

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While not nearly a flawless production--SOC operates on the sort of shoestring that makes casting problematic--this straightforward “Macbeth” has imagination and integrity to spare just the same.

A lean but evocative production design suggests the Middle Ages; the Scottish costumes--tunics and kilts, leather armor, fur-lined capes and simple floor-length gowns--look properly in period; the moody lighting is dark, which is natural for “Macbeth,” but also lush with color at the right times; the percussive sound design is well-composed, setting a dramatic tone and rhythm, by turns expectant, martial, driven, supernal and ominous.

Significantly, this production objectifies the supernatural, summoning Macbeth’s hallucinatory apparitions through basic techniques of ritualized theater. The terrifying dagger that floats in midair, for example, is presented as a symbol held aloft by black-clad figures. Similarly, Bradac and company avoid the naturalistic gore, which zealous productions frequently overdo to convince us of the orgy of blood that goes with brutal murders.

Here, the special effects are meaningful. Red silk stands in for blood, red swatches of cloth for wounds and, most effective, tight red gloves for the bloodied hands of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Their killing of Duncan, stabbed to death in his sleep, leaves such an indelible stain, it’s as though the symbol of their guilt becomes part of their anatomy.

Unlike the gloves in the O.J. Simpson case, these fit. They are what T. S. Eliot termed an “objective correlative,” which is an essential building block of art. There are many others in this production. Even the fight choreography works well.

In addition to Reggiardo and Cole, Ron Campbell stands out as Macduff, though in the second act, he becomes histrionic and loud; Jill Cary Martin is notable as Lady Macduff; and Frank Davis offers apt comic relief as the Porter.

* “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” Shakespeare Orange County, Chapman University’s Waltmar Theatre, 310 E. Palm Ave., Orange. Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m; Sun., 3 p.m. Ends Aug. 10. $22-$24. (714) 744-7016. Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes.

Carl Reggiardo: Macbeth

Jeanna Cole: Lady Macbeth

Cheke Whitfield: Duncan/First Murderer

Scott Eberlein: Malcolm

Ron Campbell: Macduff

Jill Cary MartinL Lady Macduff

Robert E. Harrison: Second Murderer

Frank Davis: The Porter

Eve Himmelheber, Suzanna Morrow and Beth KellermanWeird sisters

A Shakespeare Orange County production of a play by William Shakespeare. Directed by Thomas F. Bradac. Scene design: Lisa Hashimoto. Lighting design: David C. Palmer. Sound design: Bill Georges. Costume design: Lyndall Otto. Makeup/wig design: Christine Stahl. Fight choreography: Christopher Villa. Stage manager: Wendy A. Ruth.