Village Savant // your guide to a creative existence

10/28/2003 Entry: "Macbeth-SV"

Macbeth-SV a film by James Morgan
Wednesday, October 29th, 2003
One Night Only here at Anno Domini
doors at 7 p.m. • show at 7:30 p.m.
150 So. Montgomery Street Unit B
San Jose map
free admission

Macbeth-SV is a story arc excerpted from Macbeth by William Shakespeare. The power and flavor of the original work are translated into a new time and medium.

More info-click "details"

This chilling tale of greed and desire reflects the ambition of Silicon Valley. Macbeth’s desire is clear but only through the prodding of his wife is he capable of the economic ascent he is promised and the moral descent that is his destiny. However, he proves more capable of evil than her as she falls prey to guilt, madness and suicide. Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Banquo are monitored, manipulated and mocked throughout by the Weird Sisters.

This piece was filmed as a single take in four simultaneous video streams with all players connected via audio. The very nature of theater performance is questioned by the use of stealth on the part of the camera operators and the distribution of the players throughout the San Jose downtown area. The line between audience and stage is intentionally blurred. The net result is the appearance of lunatics screaming into their cell phones... or business as usual.

James Morgan is a student in the Cadre Laboratory for New Media. He is interested in “reality” television, new theater forms and dissatisfaction in postmodern art.

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