by Ariana Gunderson

MacBird! blends the stories of Macbeth, the famous Shakespearean tragedy, with the assassination of President Kennedy (O’Dunc in the show) and the subsequent administration by President Johnson (Macbird). Performed in the Rogers Theatre by the LSB players, this controversial play was poignant and extremely well done. The stage was set up like an aisle between the two halves of the audience facing in, which kept the crowd engaged and made the viewers feel like they were partaking in the happenings in someone’s living room, rather than observing the play from a distance.  
The three witches guiding the play were powerful on their individual platforms surrounding the audience, and mystical when down on the stage participating in the scene. The script was handily written, flowing from Shakespearean to modern slang, dotted with quotes not only from Macbeth but also from Hamlet, Othello, and Henry V. The high school actors tackled this mature script and presented it with ease. 
Minor technical difficulties on the first night were quickly remedied and the show turned out to be very impressive technologically, especially the lighting. Stephanie Corbett shined in the role of Lady Bird Johnson, a southern belle who is rendered insane by her own actions and LBJ’s character Macbird, portrayed by Justin Sorvillo, was a powerful character that dissolved into ruin. 
The O’Dunc family plots to avenge the death of the president and gain power themselves. At the close of the play, Macbird is murdered and Bob O’Dunc, the equivalent of Macduff in Macbeth, takes the throne after his plan to usurp Macbird is successful. This is just one revolution in the cycle of coup d’etat after coup d’etat, and the mutinous theme is a cynical look at society fitting to the genre of satire into which this play falls. MacBird!, while having a serious theme, was enjoyable and well done all the way through.