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and mood throughout the show. The characters' costumes also aid in this effort. Wisely, they are simple and minimal, with a few differences enhancing their distinctions. The five wives wear the same color, but with a different cut and accessory. This comes to full fruition during a weirdly brilliant dance scene at Macbeth's coronation. The execution could be interpreted in many ways, but the effect is ominous and eerie, regardless.
However, despite the good intentions and effective aesthetics of the show, the actual execution of its concept is flawed and in the end, incomplete. The emphasis is laid so heavily on the influences of Macbeth that the outcomes appear short-sighted. Some lines crucial lines are lost in this production, and many scenes feel haphazard. They are saved by the extremely talented supporting cast, including Jarett Karlsberg and Clinton Lowe. What these actors are capable of achieving with few lines and little time is truly remarkable.
Gender and identity, a theme heavily examined in Macbeth, with Lady Macbeths asking her husband, "What kind of man art thou?" and begging the gods to "unsex her." These frequent references to "masculine" strength and "being a man" are especially poignant now, with a woman running a powerhouse campaign for a political office that has only been held by men. The M Game explores what influence takes place behind the scenes, and it does that effectively. One can't help but wonder if Bill and Hillary's bedchamber exchanges ever echoes Macbeth and his wife's.
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