This modern take on Macbeth proves its themes remain politically poignant.
Two Rabbits One Hat’s inaugural production, Macbeth, ran from March 11 to 14 at Union Gallery, offering a fresh and thought-provoking take on one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies. Directed by Rachel Rusonik, ArtSci ’25, and starring Jake Henderson, ArtSci ’25, and Eleanor Guy, ArtSci ’27, the show puts a modern spin on the classic play, proving the continued relevance of its themes.
With only one alteration to the script, the three witches were reimagined as news reporters, transporting the narrative within a contemporary media-driven context. Instead of delivering prophecies, the witches report on the goings-on within the castle, a shift Rusonik used to explore how citizens engage with representative democracy.
“That’s sort of what inspired this vision of how do we get audiences to reflect on the fact that this is an ephemeral moment where we’re coming together in Macbeth’s castle is not something that we get to do in our everyday political structures,” Rusonik said in an interview with The Journal.
The production marked the debut of Two Rabbits One Hat, a company founded by Robert Herz, Comm ’25, to merge his interests in theatre and business.
Not the typical set for a theatre production, Union Gallery was lined with chairs, and the modern set was backdropped by their most recent exhibition, we carry each other. The modern set reflected the new take on a classic production.
By transforming the witches into news reporters, the show invites the audience to reconsider how news coverage shapes their political views and public perception.
The creative use of cameras and notebooks as the witches’ props further express the different ways the audience engages with the script.
“Almost all of the war scenes are recorded with a camera, which we would be privy to seeing on the news. However, much of the inner quiet dialogue is just written in a notebook, and there’s a key difference when they’re taking photos versus when they’re taking videos. We have really played around with what we get to consume as citizens,” Rusonik said.
One of the most striking moments from the play came during Malcolm’s coronation, where the flashes from the witches’ cameras provided the only source of light on the scene, symbolizing how the audience only got to see what the cameras were capturing
Another standout from the production was its reexamination of Lady Macbeth’s character, played by Guy. With the witches acting as news reporters, the audience is forced to question their biases toward Lady Macbeth—and, by extension, women in power.
In the only alteration to the original script, one of the news reporters performs a dramatized rendition of Lady Macbeth’s famous “unsex me here” speech. By exaggerating the scene and encouraging audience members to applaud, it begs the question of why people enjoy watching women, especially women in power, go mad.
“Why do so many people enjoy watching the demise of female politicians as they are made to look insane, despite being actually quite grounded and just in their decision,” Rusonik questioned.
By choosing one of Shakespeare’s most violent and politically charged plays, the production team sought to spark critical discourse on representative democracy, media influence, and the treatment of women in leadership.
Rusonik expressed her gratitude for the team behind Two Rabbits One Hat, and their take on Macbeth.
“It’s a testament to the fact that if students really want to do something, we have so many passionate and interested people here that we can make it happen if we put in that effort,” Rusonik said.
This bold reinterpretation successfully bridges Shakespearean drama with contemporary political discourse, giving a unique perspective on media, politics, and gender. More than just a fresh take on a classic, the production successfully challenges viewers to reflect on how narratives of ambition and downfall are shaped by the media and public perception.
Corrections
A previous version of this story misspelled Robert Herz’s last name. Incorrect information appeared in the March 14 issue of The Queen’s Journal.
The Journal regrets the error
Tags
Drama, Macbeth, Theatre, Two Rabbits One Hat, Union Gallery
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