I’ve got to hand it to the Guthrie: Macbeth was a brave choice for this year’s Shakespeare production, especially given the unfortunate events surrounding other “Macbeth-adjacent” productions over the past couple of years, from Theater Latté Da’s Scotland, P.A. to Rough Magic’s The Macbeths. It has sometimes felt as though the so-called “curse” wasn’t being dispelled so much as branching out into adaptations. You can Google or search Facebook for the details of those misfortunes.
For the curious, I’d suggest keeping an eye on the Guthrie’s social media accounts to see if anything mysterious or unfortunate befalls this production. I sincerely hope not, because this Macbeth is thrilling and fast-paced, and I’d hate to see any performances canceled and audiences deprived of the chance to experience it.
Former Guthrie Artistic Director Joe Dowling returns to direct this bold new production of Shakespeare’s tragedy of ambition and corruption.
Headlining the cast, and returning to the Guthrie after his wonderful turn as Henry V in the History Plays during the 2024 season, is Daniel José Molina as Macbeth. He was excellent as Prince Hal, but he may be even better here. His delivery of the famous “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” soliloquy is unlike any version I’ve ever heard, and it works brilliantly.
Other standouts include John Catron as Macduff (among several other roles), whose final confrontation with Macbeth is especially powerful. A quick note of praise also goes to fight director Annie Enneking, the climactic battle has a precision and speed rarely seen in live theater.
Stages of MN favorites Regina Marie Williams and Daniel Petzold each take on multiple roles, and it’s always a pleasure to see them, especially in Shakespeare. Meghan Kreidler is at her strongest as Lady Macbeth when her grip on reason begins to unravel. Peter Christian Hansen’s Banquo sports a couple of memorable wigs that give his character, particularly in spectral form, a striking visual identity. I know some of my fellow theater bloggers will be delighted to learn that his chest has also come out of retirement for this production.
If you’ve never seen Macbeth, this is an excellent place to start. It’s one of Shakespeare’s shorter thrillers, and this production moves with a driving pace that feels almost like a modern suspense film. The production team creates a cold, towering backdrop for the action, and the frequent use of fog reinforces the sense of danger and isolation in the Scottish Highlands.
Macbeth runs through March 22 at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit:
https://www.guthrietheater.org/shows-and-tickets/2025-2026-season/macbeth/
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