Macdeath at Sydenham HS

Wilma Kenny | May 22, 2014

Sydenham High School's Drama Club opened their new theatre last week with one of the most edgy, innovative performances that SHS has produced in years.

Mcdeath sets an old yet still current tale of the consequences of greed and ambition in the grunge scene of ’90s Seattle. The script was written in collaboration between drama teacher Eirik Rutherford and the cast, and fine-tuned through workshopping. In one slyly hilarious sequence, MacDuff escapes to hide out in Vancouver: “We can’t take guns across the border; Canada’s a fortress of solitude!” There, he plots Mac’s downfall in a room decorated with crossed wooden skis.

The relatively young ensemble works together well: some of the most memorable performances are by first-year students. Daniel Karan carries one of the most difficult roles for a young actor; as a very convincing rock music promoter he consistently seems much older than his years. The three witches: Violet Skuce, Shelby Eves and Ashley Macdonald, are baffling, unsettling, and dangerous. In a small role played to perfection, Amy Walton pantomimes a bored bartender. When she finally speaks, she reveals herself as Hecate, powerful mistress of the witches. Jess Sherman and Colton Haligan do well in the demanding roles of Lady and Mac.

This is a multi-media production: throughout, a four-man rock band beside the stage performs well, providing introduction, scene changes and back-up accompaniment to singers. Several TV screens introduce or connect scenes by showing newscasts and interviews.

Unfortunately, the new theatre space disappoints: the comfortable well-raked audience seating is perhaps the best part. Lights were rented, curtains were makeshift. Once when several players made a running exit, offstage thumps and giggles illustrated the lack of adequate room backstage. The theatre has neither storage room nor bathroom facilities.

Despite the theatre space’s shortcomings, cast and crew provided a most enjoyable evening’s entertainment. The final-night performance was enhanced at intermission by fruit crepes and coffee prepared by food service students in their new commercial style kitchen across the hall.