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"Come, let me clutch thee. I have the not, and yet I see thee still."
"But screw your courage to the sticking place and we'll not fail."
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"Shakespeare’s classic tale of murder and intrigue performed by inch-high plastic ninjas and assorted dime store figures on a briefcase-sized stage. Grand spectacle on a tiny scale." ---FringeNYC Promotional Copy Tiny Ninja Theater presents Macbeth is Tiny Ninja Theater's first Mainstage production. It stars Mr. Smile in the title role and Mrs. Smile as Lady Macbeth. The original FringeNYC production ran 40 minutes long and had a house of 10 seats. (To accomodate the crowds, 5 standing room tickets per show were sold during the later days of the Festival.) For the extended run of the show, the "tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow," monologue, which had been cut because of time constraints, was put back into the show. Six seats were also added, bringing the total house capacity up to 21, although it was sometimes stretched to 25. THE PRODUCTION Tiny Ninja Theater presents Macbeth was originally presented as part of the 2000 New York International Fringe Festival from August 16 - August 27, 2000. It won a FringeNYC Excellence Award for Innvovation & Originality. After the Fringe, the show extended its run at the Present Company ArtSpace, finally closing on December 26, 2000. In the summer of 2001, Tiny Ninja Theater presents Macbeth went on the road, performing in Providence, RI, the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, and Atlanta, GA. Stadium-style seating allowed crowds of 34 to view a single performance in Atlanta. Mrs. Smile reported "it was like a riot." Director's Note (FringeNYC) It has been a joy for me to watch everyone in this company grow into their roles. Believe it or not, many of these ninjas have never acted professionally before. And, of course, nothing compares to watching Mr. and Mrs. Smile use the raw material of their own long-standing relationship in service of their characters' deep, and deeply troubled, love affair. The process, however, has not always been an easy one. Tensions and personality conflicts are bound to arise when a large group of tiny plastic ninjas work this closely on a project that means so much to all of them. But, in the end, we are all stronger for it. I would like to extend a very special thanks to Ninja, who stepped into the role of Donalbain at the last moment, after the original actor was injured in a freak Exacto knife accident. I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to thank some of the "big people." Joey Liao, Chris Nicosia, my partner-in-crime Jonathan Van Gieson, and finally, my family, without whom nothing is possible. Thanks to all. And thank you for joining us for Tiny Ninja Theater presents Macbeth. Director's Note (Extension) The text of Macbeth, unlike many of Shakespeare's plays, has a very straightforward history. All modern variants derive their authenticity from one unique source – the Folio of 1623, commonly known as the First Folio. And it is from this text that all productions must begin. As a director, I have been graced with the finest cast one could dream of. Each ninja, no matter their role, has approached the text with a kind of seriousness of purpose one so rarely encounters these days. And, building on the solid foundation of this excellent ensemble, Mr. and Mrs. Smile have not only crafted a pair of finely honed individual performances, they have mined the rich vein of their own relationship to forge a theatrical bond unseen since the heyday of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. Theater is a collaborative art. And collaboration has its price. But despite the bruised egos, nay because of them, the whole emerges greater than the sum of its parts. |
CREW:
Written by: William Shakespeare
Directed by: Dov Weinstein
Co-Produced by: Jonathan Van Gieson, 4Panel Productions
Photography by: Xina Nicosia
CAST - ORIGINAL PRODUCTION:
| Duncan, King of Scotland | Ninja |
| Malcolm, son to Duncan | Ninja |
| Donalbain, son to Duncan | Ninja |
| Macbeth, a general in the King's army |
Mr. Smile |
| Banquo, a general in the King's army |
Ninja |
| Macduff, a nobleman of Scotland | Ninja |
| Lennox, a nobleman of Scotland | Ninja |
| Ross, a nobleman of Scotland | Ninja |
| Menteith, a nobleman of Scotland | Ninja |
| Angus, a nobleman of Scotland | Ninja |
| Caithness, a nobleman of Scotland |
Ninja |
| Fleance, son to Banquo |
Street Fighter |
| Siward, Earl of Northumberland, general of the English forces | Ninja |
| Seyton, an officer attending on Macbeth |
Ninja |
| Boy, son to Macduff |
Judo Fighter |
| A Scotch Doctor | Ninja |
| A Sergeant | Ninja |
| A Porter | Himself |
| Murderers | Johnny & Tony Ball |
| Lady Macbeth | Mrs. Smile |
| Lady Macduff | Ninja |
| Gentlewoman attending on Lady Macbeth |
Ninja |
| Three Witches | The Green Sisters |
| Lords, Gentlemen, Officers, Soldiers, Attendants, and Messengers | Ninja |
| and introducing Ninja as Young Siward | |
PERFORMANCES
8/16-8/27/00 @ FringeNYC
9/6-12/26/00 @ The Present Company
5/8-5/9/01 Providence, RI
5/28-6/8/01 @ Piccolo Spoleto
6/12-6/13/01 @ Sensurround Stagings
9/23/01 @ Black Sheep Puppet Festival
1/20-1/23/02 @ Junges Theater
1/26-1/28/02 @ Långa Näsan, Stadsteatern
8/2-8/25/02 @ Edinburgh Fringe
9/20-9/29/02 @ Charlotte Shout!
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