Macbeth Sold Out, But There Is Still Hope To See It

Shotgun Players, never too shy to pull off the greatest material with the simplest means, is now extending its Macbeth performances for the second time in the run (through Feb. 1). The Bard’s streamlined account of raw royal ambition becomes decidedly bloody on the intimate Ashby Stage, directed by Marc Jackson and performed by the assertively talented cast led by Craig Marker (Macbeth) and Blythe Foster (Lady Macbeth). Due to the close proximity of the stage in this small theatre, the proverbial fourth wall is almost nonexistent, supported merely by averted gazes of the public when stage blood becomes too realistic for comfort. The whole show, supplemented with the great production team’s work, plays out like a Hollywood thriller—fast-paced, catchy, scary, intriguing—only with the added depth of Shakespeare’s timeless dark energy. 1901 Ashby Avenue, Berkeley. 510-841-6500 or www.shotgunplayers.org. Photo by Jessica Palopoli.