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Home , Barney Gumble, Lady Macbeth (sculpture), Lady Macduff, Macbeth (Bloch), Macduff (Macbeth), MacHomer

MacHomer | Kidoons

This one-man vocal spectacular features impressions of over 50 voices from TV’s “” in a hilarious performance of Shakespeare’s “”! With a script that remains 85% Shakespeare, MacHomer will leave you “exhausted with laughter” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Rick Miller has performed MacHomer to capacity crowds and awards for 17 years, in 175 cities in , the U.S., Scotland, England, Australia, and New Zealand. In this production filmed at the California Shakespeare Theater, spot-on impressions populate an imaginatively staged multimedia version of the tragedy, truly “full of sound and fury”. The result is a performance that is a perfect introduction to Shakespeare for students of all ages and backgrounds.

AGES: 13+ GRADES: 9+

CLICK TO VIEW SHOW ON KATSKIDS WEBSITE CLICK FOR PROMO VIDEO A WYRD Production in association with Jeff Lord / KIDOONS Network, Erich Jungwirth / VoiceChairwww..com Productions, and Richard Jordan Productions, Ltd.

MacHomer Select Press www.machomer.com Last revised: Sept 1, 2012 www.machomer.com

- Noel Gallagher, The London Free Press London, ON; May 5, 2005 www.machomer.com

- Richard Ouzounian, Star Toronto, ON; February 16, 2008 www.machomer.com

- Liz Nicholls, Edmonton Journal Edmonton, AB; April 12, 2008 www.machomer.com

- James D. Watts Jr., Tulsa World. Tulsa, OK; March 13, 2005 www.machomer.com

- Jessica Berthold, Saturday Magazine Bethlehem, PA; October 29, 2005 www.machomer.com

- Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times Chicago, IL; July 11, 2006 www.machomer.com

Homer as Macbeth — The key to the glorious success of this enterprise is that Miller has equal amounts of respect for Macbeth and for The it works Simpsons. Both are revered and ridiculed in equal measure, and the combination is a killer. Sep. 6, 2006 By RICHARD OUZOUNIAN In addition to the virtuoso writing and performing on display, THEATRE CRITIC there’s a first-rate physical production to keep things crackling. It’s a bases-loaded Homer. Beth Kates has designed a combination of lighting and Okilly-dokilly, neighborino, you’re not going to find a funniershow projections that works to perfection, and director Sean Lynch anywhere around than MacHomer. has seen to it that Miller never wears out his welcome. What’s it all about? Well, the subtitle tells a good portion of the Everything you love from The Simpsons finds its way into story: “The Simpsons Do Macbeth.” MacHomer: an Itchy & Scratchy cartoon, guest appearances from the likes of O.J. Simpson (“We’re both named Simpson, It’s a concept so outrageous, so simple and yet so brilliant that and we’re both murderers,” he cheerfully assures our hero), creator/performer Rick Miller deserves the keys to Springfield and the singing parodies that deconstruct the modern musical and a special D’Oh(ra) Mavor Moore Award of his very own. with such telling accuracy. Sure, it takes a perverse kind of genius to construct a one-man But ultimately, the triumph is Miller’s. The man is a comic show in which ’s bloodiest tragedy gets juggernaut — Robin Williams with edge, or Jim Carrey with interpreted by the animated cast of America’s most subversive taste — who carries the show to triumph. television program. Best of all, Miller knows how to keep things moving, and the Once you behold perennial schlep as MacHomer whole hilarious package wraps up in just over an hour. He’s and his adenoidal wife Marge as Lady MacHomer, you may think learned one Shakespearean lesson well: “If it were D’Oh when you’re in for a one-joke ride that will grow tedious in five or 10 ‘tis D’Oh, then ‘twere well it were D’Oh quickly.” minutes.

Think again.

Miller is more than a maniacally gifted impersonator. He’s also plugged into the blissful anarchy that has been bringing to The Simpsons since 1989, and understands that nothing exceeds like excess.

How about the loathsome Mr. Burns as Duncan, the sanctimonious Ned as , or the neanderthal Barney as ? That’s just the beginning. You haven’t seen Macbeth in a new light until you’ve experienced Apu from the Kwik-EMart as the First Murderer, or known the total joy of watching Krusty the Klown tackle the character of the Porter, the castle keeper and party person. www.machomer.com

- Jennifer Brett, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta GA www.machomer.com

- T.H. McCulloh, Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, CA 2001 www.machomer.com

- Kevin Prokosh, Free Press Winnipeg, MA 2012 www.machomer.com

- Stephanie McKay, Star Phoenix - Jacqueline Burt, New York Post Saskatoon, SK 2012 New York, NY 2012 www.machomer.com Recent Quotes: “Miller retells Macbeth casting over fifty Springfield characters “[We] can recommend Rick Miller’s tour de force blend of the in the Bard’s roles. It’s one of the most inventive interpretations Bard & Bart & dozens of characters from The Simpsons as laugh of Shakespeare this country has seen. If you like Shakespeare, out loud funfunfun.” go see this show. If you hate Shakespeare, go see this show. If - James Reaney, London Free Press you like the Simpsons, go see this show.” - Keith Bennie, blogTO London ON, 2012 Toronto ON, 2011 “The best take on you’ve ever seen.” - Peter Birnie, New York Post “Don’t miss Homer’s stomach-centric stream of consciousness mistaking a dagger for a slice of pizza and Marge’s gravelly New York NY, 2012 desperation over that damned spot—unless you want to make “The show is perfect for fans of either The Simpsons or “D’oh!” a new part of your vocabulary” Shakespeare (or both), but it also works for people who aren’t - Donhae Koo, The Village Voice familiar with either.” New York NY, 2009 - Stephanie McKay, Star-Phoenix Saskatchewan SK, 2012 “Shakespeare by way of The Simpsons. Leave it to Rick Miller, a talented solo actor and the mastermind behind MacHomer - a “Rick Miller takes mash-up of Shakespeare and The Simpsons multimedia Macbeth meets The Simpsons” to new heights. MacHomer is now a technical tour de force… - Fern Siegel, Huffington Post, 2009 The result is a rare mix of belly laughs and knowing chuckles.” - Peter Birnie, The Vancouver Sun “MacHomer’s brazen, broad take on Macbeth — a postmodern Vancouver BC, 2011 mash-up of Shakespeare’s text as interpreted by the cast of The Simpsons — remains d’oh-proof. Part of Miller’s genius lies in “Rick Miller’s stage piece is the ultimate marriage of high and his close reading of Shakespeare’s text and his ability to match low art: Shakespeare and the Simpsons. Miller has toured the the Scottish archetypes with their Springfield analogues (irritant show throughout the globe, and it’s no wonder the play has becomes the object of Macbeth’s murderous been met with incredible acclaim. With 50 of Springfield’s most obsession, Banquo), but there’s also great fun in watching the memorable characters doing Shakespeare’s text, fans of both Canadian performer contort his face and let loose with a wicked the television show and the seminal playwright have reasons to impression.” applaud.” - Nick Green, Washington City Paper - Keith Bennie, BlogTO Washington DC, 2008 Toronto ON, 2011

“Miller’s impersonations are so dead-on that with your eyes “His flawless impersonations are the production’s highlight, and closed, you can imagine that someone left the television on and to call him dynamic doesn’t do him justice… You get the sense “The Simpsons” are playing.” Miller really loves Shakespeare, and while The Bard can seem - Tim Treanor, DC Theatre Scene daunting, MacHomer is an excellent, highly entertaining way of Washington DC, 2008 making one of his greatest tragedies accessible.” - Jack Van Beynen, The New Zealand Press “Simpsons do the Bard: Sound and Fury, signifying laughter. Christchurch, NZ, 2011 What the ridiculously talented Rick Miller gives you in MacHomer is both. Yes, two big hits from opposing brows of the culture, “Mmmm Macbeth: The Simpsons meet Shakespeare in Rick sinultaneously, in a virtuoso one-man 60-character multimedia Miller’s brilliant solo show. If you’re a fan of The Simpsons (and show.” who isn’t?), dollars to donuts you’re going to love MacHomer.” - Liz Nicholls, Edmonton Journal - Lauren Gillett, Theatromania Edmonton AB, 2008 Toronto ON, 2011 www.machomer.com

so funny!” - London Sunday Mail, UK

Classic Quotes: “Miller hits a Homer. MacHomer might have been tagged an amusing offbeat theeatre piece, but Miller’s phenomenal talents “Think ‘Spamalot’ meets Lon Chaney on the way to Birnam elevate it to the level of amazing. In truth, this big Mac attack is Wood. It must be said that for sheer endurance and wackiness, a rollicking tale, full of sound and funny fury, signifying a great Miller also gives Martin Short (a fellow Maple Leafer) a real run deal more than nothing.” for his money – though “MacHomer” is not so much a Shortian - Noel Gallagher, The London Free Press, London ON burlesque as it is a Windows XP take on the of Cawdor. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED” “Simpsons meet Shakespeare, and one-man play is the thing... - Hedy Weiss, The Chicago Sun Times He glides instantly from character to character with nary a hitch.” - Tony Brown, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cleveland OH “It’s a bases-loaded Homer. Okilly-dokilly, neighborino, you’re not going to find a funnier show anywhere around than “I call it – eeeexxcellent. As silly as things get in MacHomer – MacHomer. In addition to the virtuoso writing and performing and they get very silly indeed – Miller never lets the rampant on display, there’s a first-rate physical production to keep things humor completely obscure the fact that this is a tragedy. The crackling. Beth Kates has designed a combination of lighting and reaction by MacDuff, in the voice of perennial barfly Barney projections that works to perfection, and director Sean Lynch has Gumble, as he bewails the death of his wife and children is a seen to it that Miller never wears out his welcome.” truly poignant moment that no amount of joking can dispel.” - James D. Watts Jr., Tulsa World, Tulsa OK - Richard Ouzounian, Toronto Star

“HHHHThe man is a comic juggernaut – Robin Williams “In fact, Rick Miller (maybe America’s most accomplished mimic with edge, or Jim Carrey with taste – who carries the show to since Dana Carvey) becomes all the Simpsons in his skewed triumph. You’re not going to find a funnier show anywhere this vision of Macbeth.” - Lawson Taitte, The Dallas Morning News, Dallas TX summer than MacHomer… so outrageous, so simple, and yet so brilliant that Rick Miller deserves the keys to Springfield. It’s “Simpsons turn at the Scottish play is a delightful tour-de-farce. truly awesome.” Though unorthodox, MacHomer is easily the most engaging and - Richard Ouzounian, Toronto Star pop-culture-infused treatment of the show to date. Shakespeare may be rolling in his grave, but not in disgust, he just can’t stop “A masterpiece of high-low cultural fusion… laughing.” using more than 50 voices from The Simpsons” - T. Mason Brown, The Buchtelite, Akron OH, 2005 - Jessica Berthold; Saturday Magazine, Bethlehem, PA

“Rick Miller uses ‘The Simpsons’ to turn Shakespeare classic “Macbeth with Simpsons characters. Incredible performer, into a terrific ‘MacHomer’. It’s intelligent, often hilariously funny, ingenious script!” and it works like gangbusters… the laughs are continuous. - London Evening News, UK The 50 Simpsons voices that ring through the theatre with the Bard’s words – and some very funny ones by the actor – are all “The Simpsons Do Macbeth! Rick Miller’s impersonation of the Miller’s voice tobogganing up and down the scale with almost entire cast is both hilarious and awe-inspiring.: operatic precision. His transitions from character to character - The London Independent, UK are sure, immediate, and often surprising. When MacHomer suddenly morphs into Lady MacHomer (’s “A breakneck one-man tour de force... Macbeth has never been voice) or the really dumb Banquo (Ned Flanders’s voice) or even www.machomer.com

Banquo’s pushy son (of course, ) the effect is mesmeric.” “Wildly imaginative…Miller is a gifted mimic.” - T.H. McCulloh, Los Angeles Times - The Boston Globe

“The cumulative effect of all the voices, sounds, and characters, “An act of theatrical genius that respects Bart and the Bard all from one person, is overpowering, not only in the humour equally. With an impressive range of impersonations… it but in the sheer, in-your-face, non-stop, over-the-top talent of is really not to be missed, especially if you’re a fan of “The the man “ Simpsons” or Shakespeare.” - CBC TV - Contra Costa Times

“Best. Macbeth. Ever.” “Merging Shakespeare’s Macbeth with pop icons The Simpsons - Ewan Spence; The Podcast Network, Edinburgh, UK seemed an unlikely recipe. Rick Miller captures the best of both in MacHomer.” “Hilarious… MacHomer may just be the perfect collision of pop - The Edmonton Sun cultures.” -Detroit Metro Times “I call it – eeeexxcellent. As silly as things get in MacHomer – and they get very silly indeed – Miller never lets the rampant “If you miss this treat, slap your forehead and go D’OH!” humor completely obscure the fact that this is a tragedy. Some - Vancouver Sun people who were in Tuesday’s performances may never look at “So funny, one needs oxygen masks to drop from the ceiling Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” in quite the same way after seeing to re-fill the lungs for more laughs. Funniest thing I’ve seen in what miller has done with the play in “MacHomer.” But look years (including TV).” again at Macbeth they probably will – which might be the best -Victoria News compliment to pay to this show and its dizzyingly talented creator”. It’s a piece of performance mayhem that works because Miller - James D. Watts, Tulsa World is fast, skilled, and determined enough to get away with it. Think Robin Williams with a head mike, vest, and 1606 script. “MacHomer’s brazen, broad take on Macbeth — a postmodern -San Francisco Chronicle mash-up of Shakespeare’s text as interpreted by the cast of The Simpsons — remains d’oh-proof.” “That Canadian actor Rick Miller condenses Shakespeare’s epic - Washington City Paper Macbeth into a manic, single, intermission-free hour is a feat in and of itself. That Miller does the entire piece alone while “Sometimes triumph is pulled from tragedy. The currently morphing in and out of every role as performed by characters troubled Royal Shakespeare Company could learn a trick or from TV’s The Simpsons is nothing short of spectacular.” three from Mr. Miller. What an energetic and talented fellow - Fort Worth Star-Telegram he is! Like all good auteurs, Miller takes risks. Yet the casting against type pays off. Bart as Fleance, Ned as Banquo, “In an amazing performance, he produces perfect impressions Smithers’ , the Duncan of C. Montgomery Burns – of dozens of Simpsons characters speaking Shakespeare’s they’re pitch-perfect. Given the cheering capacity crowd at words.” Penn’s usually sedate Zellerbach Theatre, we don’t need the - Stage Left, Melbourne, Australia Weird Sisters to predict a future return engagement.” - Philadelphia City Paper “Phenomenal… Miller performs with energy, relish, and precision.” -Critic’s Choice, Chicago Reader www.machomer.com

have signed up to attend Stratford to see Hamlet. I believe Educational / Outreach that the Grade 11 students of this year have understood the benefit of seeing Shakespeare performed as an aide to their Quotes: understanding. I did have fun and I was particularly thrilled at how enthused my students were.” “Credit Canadian actor, playwright and vocal impressionist - Kathleen Bourne, Agincourt Collegiate Institute Rick Miller, whose bravura one-man show accomplishes a feat sure to be embraced by high school teachers across the land: GKLH making Shakespeare accessible to fidgety 16-year-olds who “Thank you so much for the great performance of MacHomer equate studying the Bard’s dense Elizabethan prose with being today. The kids just loved it and I think they will have a better beaten over the head with a hammer.” understanding of the play, and of theatre in general. Those - Joel Rubinoff, The Record, 2012 who have yet to study the play will definitely have a positive attitude toward Shakespeare. They really liked the Bohemian GKLH Rhapsody as well (as did all the staff). “Giving the bloody Elizabethan revenge tragedy cartoon-comic resonance not only made the play immediately accessible to a I was really happy to be able to have so many kids take part as young generation, it also gave Shakespeare’s moral message we were able to charge them a minimal fee to cover the costs ironic relevance.” and they were only out of one of their classes. We were able to - Sunday Sun bring our Essential classes for free because we sold so many tickets. GKLH These are kids who would never have been able to go to a play “The works of William Shakespeare can be difficult to grasp, or even consider going to one. (Those were the guys I was but a contemporary spin makes Macbeth easier to understand. seating in the front rows.) They loved it! We are just about to The theater specifically booked MacHomer to attract younger start a version of Twelfth Night with them, so it will help them audiences, as well as those who don’t normally go to theatrical get an idea of the fun they can have with the material. performances. The result was seven sold-out performances. Please keep us on your e-mail list; we would love to have you Peggy Magee, who runs the educational outreach program for perform again. I must say, as I watched you, I wondered what the Barclay Theater in Irvine, Calif, has witnessed students and on earth you must have been like as a high school student - their elders gripped by Miller’s material. Miller has made three what energy! visits to the Barclay, selling out a half-dozen performances.” - New Jersey Courier-Post Many thanks, once again. We are looking forward to bringing you back. GKLH - Patti Bodig, Halton District School Board “I have heard nothing but great things from all of the students GKLH who were there. While I feel that your performance stands alone very well, I have found myself using your characters to help “His flawless impersonations are the production’s highlight, and students compare and contrast the characters in the play. They to call him dynamic doesn’t do him justice… You get the sense have much faster recall of the story than I remember previous Miller really loves Shakespeare, and while The Bard can seem classes having. daunting, MacHomer is an excellent, highly entertaining way of making one of his greatest tragedies accessible.” Another wonderful situation, which I believe is directly - Jack Van Beynen, The New Zealand Press, 2011 attributable to you, is the large number of my students who

About MacHomer 3

MacHomer is a comic vision of how Shakespeare’s Macbeth “ One dysfunctional might look through the eyes of the characters on The Simpsons. The family does another.” show lasts about an hour. Don’t expect to hear all the famous speeches from the play or get every detail of the story. If you don’t already know Macbeth, you D’oh! should spend some time reading the play or at least become familiar with the story and characters. You’ll enjoy MacHomer a lot more if you know what they’re making fun of! How It All Started In 1994, actor Rick Miller was playing Murderer #2 in a production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. He had only six lines in the play, which left him with a lot of free time backstage. According to Miller, “I just thought, ‘You know what? The Simpsons television show is becoming really popular and I have a voice that can take on a lot of different cartoon ranges.’” As a joke, he began to concoct a Meet Rick Miller version of Macbeth where all the characters took on the voices Canadian Rick Miller is an award-winning and personalities of characters from The Simpsons. actor, comedian, and playwright. Trained in Montreal as an architect, actor, and Miller’s five-minute “joke” was a huge hit with his friends. singer, he has performed in five Word began to spread and eventually he was invited to develop languages on five continents. his concept into an hour-long performance, which he called Rick’s credits range from classical MacHomer. The show transforms Shakespeare’s famous tragedy theater to the avant-garde, from of ambition, murder, and witchcraft into something entirely musicals to live , from different. Miller plays all the roles by himself, voicing over 50 voice work to film and television. characters from The Simpsons. The production also features In addition to MacHomer, Rick songs, video projections, and sound effects. MacHomer was is the co-creator of the shows directed by Sean Lynch. Beth Kates designed the production and Bigger Than Jesus, HARDSELL, also serves as the show’s production/stage manager. Over more and Lipsynch, all touring than a decade, MacHomer has been enjoyed by more than half a internationally. You may have million people around the world. seen him on television as host of the ABC hit series Just for Laughs. Also on television, Rick’s Listen to a radio interview with Rick Miller to many voices can be heard in hit cartoons such as hear how he created MacHomer and how Atomic Betty (Sparky), My Big Big Friend (Bongo), and Magi-Nation (Orwin, Freep, Ashio). he’s able to do all the voices. Visit Rick’s website: www.rickmiller.ca Shakespeare’s Macbeth 4 Background Macbeth is the story of a power-hungry Scottish nobleman and his equally ambitious wife. To gain the throne, they murder and order the assassination of anyone who might pose a threat. The couple’s ruthless grab for power is fueled by prophecies from , who predict Macbeth’s rise and also foretell the path of his downfall. William Shakespeare wrote Macbeth sometime during the first decade of the 17th century. As with his other plays, he based elements of the play on existing documents and material. Some of the characters in Macbeth are actual people from Scottish history, including Macbeth, Macduff, and Duncan. Shakespeare would have read about them in Holinshed’s Chronicles, a history of the British Isles that he used as the source for some of his other plays besides Macbeth. No doubt Shakespeare chose Scottish history as his subject to pay homage to the new King of England, James I, who was previously King James VI of Scotland. James believed that he was a direct descendant of Banquo, one of the historical characters in Macbeth is Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The real Banquo was said to have assisted in the shortest play. Some think it’s because King James had a short murder of King Duncan and the attention span. crowning of the traitor Macbeth. Shakespeare was careful to leave out these unsavory details from the play! The Real Macbeth There was a King of Scotland named Mac Bethad mac Findlaich, known in English as Macbeth. He was born in 1005, became King in 1040, and ruled until his death in 1057. He did indeed kill King Duncan, but it was in battle, not cold-blooded murder. Macbeth ascended to the throne and ruled Scotland for 14 years—far longer than he does in Shakespeare’s play. He turned out to be a much better king than Duncan. Under Macbeth, Scotland became comparatively stable and prosperous. In 1054, he was challenged by the Earl of Northumbria, who declared that the rightful king of Scotland was Duncan’s son, Malcolm. Malcolm killed Macbeth in battle and reclaimed his family’s throne. Why Witches? James I was notoriously afraid of witches and witchcraft. He considered himself an No contemporary image exists of authority on the subject and published a book, , describing witches, their the real Macbeth. This portrait is magic, and how to destroy them. While he was King of Scotland, he authorized the torture from the 19th century. of many people suspected of practicing witchcraft. Dozens of condemned witches were burned at the stake in what would be the largest witch hunt in British history. Given the King’s particular interest, it’s not surprising that Shakespeare included those scary witches as a major element in Macbeth. The Characters 5

The characters in Macbeth, listed in order of rank or importance:

DUNCAN SIWARD King of Scotland. Murdered by Macbeth. Earl of Northumberland, general of the English army. MALCOLM Duncan’s son. He eventually joins Macduff to overthrow Siward’s son. He is killed in battle by Macbeth. Macbeth and become the next king. LENNOX, ROSS, MENTEITH, ANGUS, AND CAITHNESS Scottish noblemen. Duncan’s son and Malcom’s younger brother. SEYTON MACBETH An officer serving Macbeth. At first, part of Duncan’s army. He later becomes the Thane of Glamis, , and then King of Scotland. He Macbeth’s wife. She persuades him to kill Duncan. Later, she murders Duncan and seizes the throne. To protect his feels so guilty that she goes insane and dies, most likely by kingship, he hires assassins to murder Banquo and Fleance. suicide. He is ultimately killed by Macduff. BANQUO Macduff’s wife. She is killed by assassins hired by Macbeth. A general in Duncan’s army and friend of Macbeth. A HECATE (pronounced HEH-kah-tee) potential rival for the throne of Scotland, he is murdered by An evil spirit who keeps company with the three witches. assassins hired by Macbeth. Banquo’s ghost comes back to haunt Macbeth. THREE WITCHES Witches who offer prophecies to Macbeth about his future. MACDUFF He allies himself with Duncan’s son Malcolm to overthrow Macbeth. He wants to kill Macbeth in revenge for Macbeth having arranged the murder of Macduff’s wife and children. FLEANCE Banquo’s son. He escapes the assassins sent by Macbeth to kill him and his father.

Getting Into Character !Take your cue from Rick Miller and create your own one- !Working with three or four classmates, stage a roundtable person show. Choose a character from Macbeth. Read discussion: Who is the rightful King of Scotland? One carefully through the play for clues about the character’s person acts as the moderator and begins the debate. The age, social position, actions, beliefs, relationship to the other people in the group each take on the character of other characters, etc. Write a 3-5-minute monologue that someone in the play and argue the question from their tells part of the story from your character’s perspective. character’s perspective. Without revealing your character’s identity, perform the !Deception is a main theme in Macbeth. In Act I, scene 7, scene for the rest of the class. Afterwards, give them two Macbeth says to Lady Macbeth, “False face must hide what chances to identity your character. If they can’t figure it the false heart doth know.” Choose either Macbeth or Lady out, have them ask your character some questions. Macbeth and create two masks: one representing their real Respond as the character (not as yourself). selves and one the face they present to the public. The Story 6

Act I: Three witches tell Macbeth that he is destined to that he will be safe achieve new honors: first becoming Thane of Cawdor and until Birnam Wood then King of Scotland. They further reveal that Banquo’s (a nearby forest) sons—not Macbeth’s—will rule Scotland in the future. comes to Macbeth Macbeth learns that he has been made Thane of Cawdor. He at writes to his wife about the witches, including their Castle. To be safe, prediction that he will one day be King. Lady Macbeth urges Macbeth orders the him to hasten his rise to the throne by killing King Duncan murder of when he spends the night at their castle. Macduff’s wife and children. Upon hearing the news, Macduff joins forces with Act II: At his castle, Macbeth has a frightening vision of a Malcolm to take back the throne from Macbeth. bloody dagger. He begins to regret his plan to murder the King, but Lady Macbeth will not let him back out. Macbeth Act V: Macduff and Malcolm advance with their army on murders the sleeping King and plants the bloody dagger on Dunsinane Castle. Macbeth is confident that the witches’ the drunken guards. Duncan’s body is discovered. Macbeth prophesies mean that he is safe. Lady Macbeth is haunted by kills the guards to prevent them from talking. Duncan’s sons visions of Duncan’s murder as she walks in her sleep. News is flee to England, leaving the throne of Scotland to Macbeth. soon brought to Macbeth that his wife has killed herself. Next comes word that the English army is advancing on Act III: Upset by the prophecy that Banquo’s sons will inherit Dunsinane Castle, camouflaged with branches cut from the throne, Macbeth orders the murder of Banquo and his Birnam Wood. Macduff and Macbeth draw swords. In the son Fleance. Banquo is killed, but Fleance escapes. Macbeth heat of the fight, Macduff reveals that he was not “born of a receives the news during a banquet. As his guests look on in woman,” but “untimely ripped” from his mother’s womb. amazement, he sees the ghost of Banquo at the table. Macbeth realizes that the witches’ prophecies have come to Act IV: Macbeth visits the witches to learn more about his pass. He fights on until he is killed by Macduff. Duncan’s son future. They tell him to beware Macduff, a nobleman loyal to Malcolm assumes his place as King of Scotland. King Duncan who has now fled to England. Then they tell Above: “Macbeth and Banquo Meeting the Witches Macbeth that no man born of a woman can harm him and on the Heath” (1819) by Théodore Chassériau

Nobody’s Perfect.

Shakespeare’s plays are grouped into three categories: !What do you think is Macbeth’s fatal TRAGEDY COMEDY HISTORY flaw? What circumstances and Along with works including Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, events in the play make this Othello, and King Lear, Macbeth falls into the category of weakness fatal for him? tragedy. The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC) !Does Homer Simpson have a fatal defined tragedy as a drama that shows a series of events that flaw? What do you think it is? lead to a tragic ending. The central character (protagonist) is !Think of a play or movie you’ve an admirable person, except for a “fatal flaw” (such as pride seen that has a tragic ending. or jealousy). The events and circumstances in the story, How did you feel at the end? combined with the protagonist’s flaw, lead to his tragic Why do you think people like downfall. The final outcome is designed to provide the stories that have an unhappy audience with a catharsis—a release of strong emotions. ending—that may even leave them in tears? Meet the Simpsons 7

The Simpsons is the longest-running comedy in television history. January 14, 2010 will mark the 20th anniversary of the animated series. The show was created by Matt Groening (who also created Futurama) and was originally a series of short sketches that appeared on . Two featured members of the Tracey Ullman cast, and Julie Kavner, became famous as the voices of Homer and Marge Simpson and other characters. With over 400 episodes and a feature film, The Simpsons has earned 24 Prime Time Emmy® Awards and the has earned its own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Simpsons follows the lives of Homer and Marge Simpson, their children—Bart, Lisa, and Maggie—and the other residents of the fictional town of Springfield. Through the cartoon characters, the show makes fun of American society, human behavior, big business, and other subjects. In addition to the regular cast of characters, many guest celebrities (among them Stephen Hawking, U2, Lance Armstrong, and LeBron James) have played themselves on the show. Other guests (among them Ricky Gervais, Liam Neeson, Jack Black, and Michael Jackson) have lent their voices to some of the show’s fictional characters. Who’s Who in MacHomer In MacHomer, Rick Miller re-creates the voices of over 50 Simpsons characters. Of course, Homer and Marge play Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. From the list below, can you guess which character in Macbeth is played by each of these other Simpsons characters? Ned Flanders Smithers Moe Otto Mann Krusty the Clown Captain McCallister Apu Bart Simpson Mr. Burns Troy McClure Grampa Simpson

To Do/Discuss !Why do you think The Simpsons has become America’s !Rick Miller has said that The Simpsons “holds up a satirical longest-running primetime TV entertainment program? mirror to modern-day society.” What is the definition of What are some of the qualities that make the show so satire? What is its purpose? Is it effective? Why? popular with audiences of all generations? If you watch it !Think of examples of satire in The Simpsons and yourself, what do you like most about it? MacHomer. Who or what were they satirizing? Create a list !Think of another TV show that could be used to create a of other examples of satire (TV shows, magazines, Internet parallel version of Macbeth. What specific elements in the sites, novels, movies, poems, etc.) What people, events, or show are similar to Macbeth? Try writing a scene from ideas are most often the target of satire? Macbeth for your TV characters. Performance Notes 8

With MacHomer, Rick Miller continues the long tradition of one-person shows. From the ancient bards chanting heroic poetry to today’s standup comedians, the solo performance has always enjoyed great popularity. In the world of the theater, there are many different types of one-person shows. There are plays, such as I Am My Own Wife, written for a single actor. Some solo performances portray a famous personality: for example, Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, or Harry Truman. Actors such as Whoopi Goldberg, Lily Tomlin, John Leguizamo, and Anna Deavere Smith have created shows where they bring to life a broad range of mostly fictional characters who speak directly to the audience. MacHomer belongs to a category of theater where the performer or ensemble offers a condensed version of a popular play, television show, etc. The Reduced Shakespeare Company’s The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) presents all of the plays of Shakespeare in a little more than 90 minutes. Charles Ross has created shows that compress the entire Star Wars trilogy and The Lord of the Rings into about an hour.

MacHomer shows off Rick Miller’s special talent for MacHomer uses impersonation. Part of the excitement comes from seeing projections, lighting, how quickly he’s able to switch his voice from one character and sound effects to heighten the theatrical to another, playing about 50 Simpsons personalities in all. His experience. performance is enhanced by recorded sound effects and sophisticated lighting and projections. The projections add visual humor and also help the audience members who aren’t familiar with The Simpsons to identify the various characters. To Do/Discuss !Were you surprised to see which Simpsons character story as a one-person show and make sure to make each played each of the roles in Macbeth? Do you agree with character different. How will you make it clear to your Rick Miller’s choices? If you could make any changes in partner when someone new appears in the story? the roles, what would they be? Why? !As you watch the performance, notice when the Simpsons !During the performance, look for the ways Rick Miller characters step out of their Macbeth roles to speak and uses body, facial expression—and of course, voice—to behave as themselves. Does this make it easier or harder switch from one character to another. for you to understand the story and characters in Macbeth? !If you had to play several different characters, how would you make sure the audience understood the difference !After the show, write a review of the performance. Be sure between the characters? Pair up with a classmate and to discuss all of the key elements: the script, acting, choose a story you both know well. Take turns telling the costume, lighting and projection, sound, etc. “Something Wicked this Way Comes” 9

At the beginning of MacHomer, the witches speak these well-known lines: FIRST WITCH: Where the place? SECOND WITCH: Upon the heath. THIRD WITCH: There to meet with Macbeth. Horrified, one of the performers steps out of character and exclaims, “Oh God! Don’t say that! It’s bad luck!” This is a reference to the play’s reputation among theater people for being cursed. No one knows when or why this idea got started. One theory is that the three witches in the original production were actual witches casting real spells. Over time, belief in the curse was reinforced by a series of accidents— “The Three Witches” (c. 1793) by Henry Fuseli even deaths—that were connected in some way to the play. According to the superstition, it’s bad luck to utter the word “Macbeth,” especially inside a theater. So you’ll often In an episode of The hear someone refer to Macbeth as “the Scottish play” rather Simpsons, Sir Ian McKellen than using the actual title. There are all kinds of practices and (who has played Macbeth rituals that are supposed to ward off evil spirits if someone numerous times) is struck accidentally speaks the name of the play. These include by lightning after saying reciting an appropriate line from one of Shakespeare’s other the play’s name. plays, spitting over your left shoulder, or twirling three times.

Lilian At Baylis, artistic In director at the Old the very first in 1849, there were two Vic in London, died of a performance, productions of Macbeth heart attack the night featuring rival actors. During a before the opening of Shakespeare himself had to performance a riot broke out play Lady Macbeth when her 1937 among partisans of each On the actor meant to play production. her suddenly died. In actor; 31 people were April 9, 1865, Amsterdam in trampled to death. Abraham Lincoln read 1672, the actor aloud to his friends the playing Macbeth brought During the run lines following Duncan’s a real dagger onstage and of a 1942 production, murder. Lincoln himself Duncan and two of the killed the actor playing was assassinated a Duncan—right in front week later. witches died and the set designer committed of the audience! suicide. Macbeth’s Scotland 10 The historical Macbeth lived in Scotland about a th. cbe thousand years ago, during a time of great political Ma in and territorial upheaval. Under the political ns tio structure of the period, the High King of Scotland ca ruled over seven provinces, each made up of a Lo group of extended families called clans or tribes. Each of these provinces had its own king—a warlord whose status depended on his skill in battle. Beneath the kings were five social ranks: mormaer, thane, freeman, serf, and slave. Cawdor Forres

The High King of Scotland was selected alternately from different royal families. This system S created great instability, as tribal chiefs regularly Inverness

killed off the king and seized the throne for C themselves. Fighting over power and territory was ongoing. In particular, there was a great rivalry O between Moray (Macbeth’s tribe) and Atholl

(Duncan’s tribe). T Birnam Wood When we first meet Macbeth in the play, he is Glamis called thane, an official who collects dues and L Dunsinane tribute to support the King and his court. The real- A Fife life Macbeth held the rank of mormaer, a powerful member of the royal kin group from which kings N were chosen. D There is no such language as Scottish. Macbeth would have spoken Gaelic, a language in the same family as Irish. ENGLAND

Who’s Who in Macbeth’s World Besides fighting among each other, the Scottish engaged in ongoing conflicts with some of these other groups:

The Vikings - In addition to Norway, Iceland, and large The Irish - The Irish shared a common language with the parts of Ireland, the Vikings conquered parts of Scotland’s Scots as well as cultural and marriage ties. northern mainland, Orkney Islands, and Western Isles. The Church - Though the head of the church in Scotland The Danes - King Canute of Denmark ruled over Norway officially answered to Rome, the monks and priests working and England from 1016 to 1035. among the people came from the Celtic tradition. They The Angles - Descendants of a Germanic tribe, the Angles continued many of its practices, such as clergy taking wives. lived in northern England under the rule of the Danes. More to Do and Discuss 11

!A life map is a visual representation of the events in a person’s life. It may include text, pictures, and/or objects. Working in pairs have one person create a life map of a principal character from Macbeth and the other person do the same for the equivalent character in MacHomer. Share your life maps with the rest of the class and compare and contrast your two characters. !How much influence does Lady Macbeth have over her husband? Do Marge and Homer Simpson have a similar relationship, or is it very different? How does this comparison affect your interpretation of MacHomer? !Taking Rick Miller’s concept, create a comic strip to tell the story of one act of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. You can use The Simpsons, another cartoon, or make up your own characters. Make sure to include text, images, and as much detail as you can. !You’ll notice during the show that Homer has a tough time getting all the way through Macbeth’s most famous speeches. How does he end up performing them? Take one of these soliloquies and perform it all the way Is this a dagger which I see before me... through—in the character of Homer. or a PIZZA? !Some of the main themes in Macbeth include: Ambition Truth vs. Deception Guilt Fate vs. Free Will Choose one of these themes and write a brief essay discussing whether it applies to The Simpsons. Explain Shakespeare’s Macbeth has inspired your position with specific examples from the show. at least 50 films, plus operas, ballets, orchestral music, paintings, !Akira Kurosawa’s 1957 film, , takes the and sculptures. story of Shakespeare’s Macbeth and turns it into a samurai drama set in feudal Japan. Watch Kurosawa’s film and also one of the more traditional film versions. (See resources list on page 12.) Then make a chart comparing the characters, themes, stories, visual elements, and impact Zounds ! on the audience of Macbeth, MacHomer, and Throne What have they of Blood. Which version did you enjoy the most? done to my play?! Why? Which one told the best story? !Divide your class into two teams and debate the following question: Would Shakespeare have approved of MacHomer? Look for evidence to support your side by reading about his life and times and looking for clues in his plays, sonnets, and other writings. Are You Ready? 12 Learn Your Part Resources One essential collaborator needed to Books create a live performance is the audience. Macbeth (No Fear Shakespeare Graphic Novels), The weeks and months of thought and illustrated by Ken Hoshine. SparkNotes, 2008. preparation that go into a show are Macbeth adapted into a graphic novel, with lots directed toward creating a of helpful materials. performance that will inspire and A Charmed Life: Growing Up in Macbeth’s Castle, entertain you and the other people by Liza Campbell. Thomas Dunne Books, 2007. who are watching and listening. The autobiography of the last child born at Your role in this artistic Macbeth’s castle. collaboration is very important. Make sure you know your part: Shakespeare 101, by Michael LoMonico. Gramercy, 2004. • When you arrive at the theater, 101 Things You Didn’t Know About Shakespeare, follow an usher to your seat. Turn it off . by Janet Ware and Al Davis. Adams Media, 2005. • Before the show begins, make sure to turn off and put away all electronic Online devices, including cell phones, http://www.machomer.com - The official portable games and music, cameras, MacHomer website and recording equipment. Keep them http://www.folger.edu/documents/Full%20Macbe off for the entire performance. th%20Study%20Guide.pdf - Folger Shakespeare Library’s excellent study guide for Macbeth • Once the house lights (the lights in the part of the theater where the http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/default.htm - Mr. audience is sitting) go down, focus all William Shakespeare and the Internet has lots of your attention on the stage. Watch and information, links, and resources. listen carefully to the performance. www.pbs.org/shakespeare - The website for this 2004 PBS series has inventive explorations of • Attending a play in the theater is not Shakespeare’s life and times, resources, games, the same as watching television at home. No Photos. and more. At the theater, talking, eating, and moving around disturbs the performers and other Films members of the audience. And please—no Macbeth (1948). Directed by , texting or checking messages during the show! starring Welles and Jeanette Nolan. Not Rated.

• If something in the show is meant to be A Performance of Macbeth (1979). Directed by funny, go ahead and laugh. And of course— Philip Casson, starring Ian McKellen and Judi feel free to applaud at the end of the Dench. Not Rated.

performance if you liked what you saw. Throne of Blood (1957). Directed by Akira • After the performers are finished taking Kurosawa, the film transposes the story of their bows, stay in your seat until your Macbeth to feudal Japan. Not Rated. group gets the signal to leave the theater. The Tragedy of Macbeth (1971). Directed by Roman Polanski, starring Jon Finch and Quiet, Please. Francesca Annis. Rated R.