MacSith Reviews

Chicago Reader- Somewhat Recommended

"...There's little to justify the conceit, though, and the would-be dramatic production doesn't pass the straight-face test either; instead nearly 40 actors amble around and shout, distracting from the story at the tragedy's heart. It's a curious sight at any age, but for the few terrified-looking children at the matinee I attended, I imagine it's totally inexplicable."

Gapers Block- Recommended

"...MacSith is fast paced, perhaps in need of an intermission and a deep breath to allow the audience to dwell on the plot intricacies that seem rushed upon occasion in an effort to get the whole story out in 70 minutes. But the small space of the theater creates an intimacy between the large cast and audience, allowing us to experience each character's dilemma up close, and feel the wind created by the elaborately choreographed light saber fights. The courtly realms of Macbeth's era and the decorous empire of Star Wars are especially compatible for such a mash-up, and the comparisons are not lost on Couling and McDaris as they blend the terminologies together to create a unified vision."

Time Out Chicago- Recommended

"...There's a certain amount of camp that rears its head throughout MacSith, including a distracting orchestral score and choreographed lightsaber fights that unfold with all the subtlety of an action figure battle. If you've suffered through The Phantom Menace, you can probably stomach it. Much like the infamous Holiday Special or those TV movies about Ewoks, MacSith is a Star Wars curiosity. It's far from essential, but there are worse ways to kill time while you wait for The Force Awakens."

Chicago Stage and Screen- Somewhat Recommended

"...If you’re a Star Wars fan, you’ll find things to enjoy in this production. If you’re a Shakespeare fan, you’ll find things to enjoy in this production. If you’re a fan of both, you’ll enjoy it even more. There will be things that irk you on both sides of the aisle, but that won’t keep you from enjoying the show for 70 minutes. A lack of clarity in the concept’s execution keeps this show from becoming the fandom must-see that it strives to be."

Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended

"...As my friend and I walked to E.D.G.E. Theatre Company’s production of “MacSith,” he asked me that given that it is Shakespeare’s Macbeth, renamed, and set in a Star War’s Universe, whether or not we should use the superstitious nomenclature, “The Scottish Play,” once inside. I told him I wasn’t sure, but after seeing the production, for me, the answer was a resounding yes! This was Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” like I’d never seen it before: hyper-intimate, terrifyingly dark, and surprisingly redemptive (which did require plot changes). Nobody knows how the custom of not saying the name Macbeth in a theatre got started: some believe that it has to do with the play’s supernatural elements while others think that it is because the play, always a commercial success, is so often produced by struggling theatre companies as a last ditch effort shortly before closing, thus giving it a reputation for bad luck."

The Fourth Walsh- Somewhat Recommended

"...MACSITH is incredibly innovative. In its current form, its more of an extravaganza of fighting and costume (Designer Ashley Ann Woods) pageantry. For the story to truly unfold eloquently, it needs to slim down to a manageable number of characters to help the audience focus on the story."