Quote of the Day: William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, spoken by Macbeth, Act V, scene v

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

The one word I would use to describe the Guthrie Theater’s current production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth – Dark. 

Daniel Jose Molina as Macbeth and John Catron as Macduff in Macbeth at the Guthrie Theater, thru 3/22/26. Photo: Dan Norman

In theme and presentation, Macbeth is a dark story. Greed, ambition, and ruthlessness are all driving forces in this tale of a power couple who will stop at nothing in order to gain the crown, to be hailed as and king and queen, to have a kingdom bow down to them and do their bidding. But, fame, fortune, and status gained by murder and cruelty, and the back-stabbing of once loyal followers is a recipe for destruction. Meghan Kreidler as the cold-hearted Lady Macbeth delivers a chilling performance. Her speech, calling out “Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty!” sent chills down my spine. She is casting out any sympathies that she might have as a woman, and leaning fully into ambition. She is ready to call her husband to task and take over the kingdom using any means, no matter how cruel. 

Meghan Kreidler as Lady Macbeth in Macbeth at the Guthrie Theater, thru 3/22/26. Photo: Dan Norman

Daniel José Molina is equally as strong in his role as Macbeth, yet he evokes a certain amount of sympathy. While he agrees with his wife, and craves the throne, he also has a conscience. We see him struggle with the actions he is about to perform. We watch him nearly crumble at the weight of his deed, not fully getting rid of the evidence, the daggers, until his wife intervenes. We witness in both of them, the decent into madness, their own darkness overcoming them. Molina’s delivery of the “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow” speech was gripping.

Daniel Jose Molina as Macbeth and Meghan Kreidler as Lady Macbeth in Macbeth at the Guthrie Theater, thru 3/22/26. Photo: Dan Norman

 

The entire cast is very strong, with some standouts, for me. Peter Christian Hansen as Banquo, and later his ghost, gives us a complex character who is at first part of the conspiracy, then later the victim. The scenes with him as a ghost were incredible. John Catron as Macduff (and others) slayed me. I felt the devastation of a father losing “all my little chicks, and my wife, too” when he learns of the murder of his family. He is also one of the three Weird Sisters, along with Sun Mee Chomet and Regina Marie Williams – delivering all those great spooky lines in a well choreographed movement around the stage, around the trap door – a giant caldron, and around the characters of this play, extending into the audience. The use of smoke rising up from the trapdoor and around the stage was a great effect. 

Cast of Macbeth at the Guthrie Theater, thru 3/22/26. Photo: Dan Norman

The Guthrie’s production of Macbeth is technically stunning. Many scenes are dark and gloomy. Add to that the smoke and lighting, making it seem like the stage itself has come to life, wiggling and swaying like a snake. Then, moments of bright lights, loud crashes – thunder, battles, clashes. You sit captivated for the full 110 minutes of the show – non-stop action – no intermission. No break in the action or your focus. Once the snowball starts down the hill, it just gets bigger and stronger until it crashes to the bottom. Still, Shakespeare leaves us with glimmers of hope. A child survives. The power continuum shifts, and shifts again.

This stunning production of Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth is directed by Joe Dowling, former long-time Artistic Director of the Guthrie Theater. Scenic design by Riccardo Hernández. Costume design by Judith Dolan – lots of dark soldier costumes in black and blood red, and a brilliant contrast of Lady Macbeth in a glimmering gold dress. Lighting by Philip Rosenberg. Sound design by Peter Morrow. Keith Thomas is the composer for atmospheric music played throughout the performance. 

You can see Macbeth at the Guthrie Theater through March 22, 2026. 

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt: What modern television or movie characters do you think are based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth?