Shakespeare Festival Returns For Fifth Season: ‘Macbeth’ Resonates In Today’s World

There’s a long history of Shakespeare being performed outdoors, even in Massachusetts. The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company has been holding free outdoor festivals since 1996, with the majority taking place at the Boston Commons. Shakespeare and Company is a rep theater that is located in the Berkshires which has existed since 1978. Even Cape Cod is no exception, with the Cape Cod Shakespeare Company preparing to present their fifth season.

From July 20 through July 30 at Kate Gould Park in Chatham, the Cape Cod Shakespeare Company will host alternating productions of “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare and “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder, a play picked in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary (see separate story). All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m.

 “Macbeth" will be directed by the company’s managing director, Terry Layman. Reid Williams, who will take on the role of Macbeth, said the production is going great.

 “The rehearsal process this year has been the fastest, smoothest, and like the most hit-the-ground-running we've ever had,” said Williams. “It is very reminiscent of the old Monomoy [Theatre] where we used to do, you know, three shows every day.”

Both plays feature the same set of actors. The cast rehearses both plays daily, according to Williams, with one show in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Throughout the rehearsal process, Williams has been able to reflect on some parts of “Macbeth” he has enjoyed to this point.

 “I very much like the fights,” said Williams. “Casey Prodovic is choreographing. He's a long-standing Monomoy alum and his spike choreography is so detailed and special…that's one of the things that really gets me fired up about coming here every year.”

Williams also noted his appreciation to work with Layman and the rest of the cast, including Monomoy alum Arlene Bozich as Lady Macbeth, emphasizing that “it’s just a joy to get to watch everybody work.” He pointed out Layman’s ability to work within the text and find parallels that modern audiences will appreciate. Additionally, he expressed that his fellow actors, and the performances they are giving, make his job all the easier.

 “One of the things that I actually love the most about ‘Macbeth’ is playing Macbeth, I don't feel at all like there's really anything driven by me,” he said. “It's one of the larger roles that I've played in my time as an actor, and I think that what I find the most enjoyable about it is that it is just so much about everybody else.”

The juxtaposition of “Macbeth” and “Our Town” is not lost to Cape Cod Shakespeare Company Director and Founder Alan Rust.

 “Can people govern themselves? And then are you just opposed to a tyrant that kills everybody?” said Rust. “We didn't do that on purpose, but if you read the paper, it looks like we did.”

Rust, who was the artistic director at the Monomoy Theatre for nearly 40 years, said when the Monomoy Theater was sold and the pandemic hit, he began to question whether an event like this should be done outside. He noted the amount of music and outdoor events that occur in Chatham and the long history of Shakespeare festivals being performed outside, all of which compounded to make the idea something worthwhile. Since the opening performance, Rust noted, the audiences have always shown up. On opening night, chairs and blankets were spread on the lawn in front of the bandstand, just like they are for Friday night band concerts.

Even though Shakespeare can be difficult for some, it’s worthwhile attending, said Williams.

 “I think it's always good to go out and see theater,” said Williams. “And our plays are very accessible. We don't have intermissions. You come in, you sit down, you bring your wine. It's an excellent way to spend an evening, a summer evening specifically, because if you want to be outside anyway, you might as well come down and get some entertainment.”