The Federal Theater Project: Macbeth by Orson Wells
So often the story of the people in need of New Deal programs is told from the agricultural perspective, but artists and actors needed relief as well. An under represented population that was a part of the melting pot of American culture. The support and success of this production was illustrative of how people of color wanted to assert themselves as part of American culture. New York had it's own regional branch of the Federal Theatre Project, but within it there was the "negro division", made up of African American actors, musicians, writers and theatre technicians .
The Federal Theater Project's Harlem Prodution of Macbeth was wildly successful. Referred to as "Voodoo Macbeth" and produced by Orson Wells, it featured an all black cast and a different take on the Shakespearean classic. Wells set the play in Haiti instead of Scotland and had a "real witch doctor" play the part of the witch. What he was doing was different, it was a break from tradition and could be considered "glitching" Shakespeare (Dauterive). He took the original classic play and gave it a twist. In doing so he empowered actors of color to shine instead of being relegated to uncredited roles. It allowed another downtrodden and often forgotten populace to contribute to the American popular culture. To be part of the "folk" that the WPA was documenting and included in the definition of what it was to be American.
Looking at how different the posters appear in their original forms for the New York and Boston productions is thought provoking. The New York production is really only three colors, it feels harsh and primitive, is this because it was set in the Carribean? Or is it representative of how people of color were viewed at the time? Simple and primitive.
It is especially interesting when considering those questions and viewing the Boston production poster, here there is color and classic Macbeth imagery. It looks tradtional and complex.
Glitching the two posters was satisfying, the NY poster now has greens and oranges. It better represents the complex ideas and culture that Wells introduced to a classic Shakespearean tale. The Boston glitch is now simplified, it is more basic, more generic and uninteresting. As Macbeth in it's orginial fashion can always be appreciated, to see one, is to see all. The orginality that Voodoo Macbeth brought to the time-honored story was invigorating.
Sources:
Library of Congress. Federal Theatre Project, 1935 to 1939. " About this Collection". Accessed 12/4/19. https://www.loc.gov/collections/federal-theatre-project-1935-to-1939/about-this-collection/
Library of Congress. "Today in History - July 25, Macbeth". Accessed Dec 1, 2019. https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/july-25/
Dauterive, Jessica. George Mason University. Office Conference. Nov. 25, 2019.
All Photos are part of the Library of Congress's digital collections for the Federal Theatre Project. Accessed 12/1/2019. https://www.loc.gov/collections/federal-theatre-project-1935-to-1939/.