鈥淚鈥檓 not quite sure how much I鈥檓 allowed to share,鈥� Amber Gray says. 鈥淏ut, I will say we鈥檙e all double cast.鈥� Director Sam Gold鈥檚 vision, she continues, 鈥渋s very carefully thought out, it foreshadows moments, haunts others. It reflects back as the story unfolds.鈥�
Gray joins the cast of Macbeth as Banquo after originating the role of Persephone in Hadestown in 2019. 鈥淚 was excited by Macbeth as a production more than anything because it was totally unexpected for my next move,鈥� the actor says. For Gray, there is an excitement to playing a character that balanced and sturdy 鈥渆specially after having played roles on Broadway that I鈥檓 known for like Helene and Persephone which are really off balance and have their weight on one leg.鈥�
Calling the shift 鈥渁 total palate cleanser,鈥� Gray explains, 鈥淚鈥檓 going back to skills I haven鈥檛 used in over a decade, it鈥檚 fun to nerd out on the actual verse of it all.鈥� Moving from a Broadway musical to a classical straight play, the actor does seem some connections between the two. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e honoring the poetry of Shakespeare, it鈥檚 quite musical. There is a structure and a rhythm to hold you as a starting place especially and then you can interpret it as you get more comfortable with it, you can make it your own.鈥�
Of the roles Gray plays in Macbeth, the actor was announced as the production鈥檚 Banquo, a character Gray will play as a woman. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting because it changes how the prophecy applies,鈥� says Gray, referring to a divination revealed to Banquo by one of Macbeth鈥檚 three witches: 鈥淭hou shalt get kings, though thou be none.鈥� The actor continues, 鈥淚t鈥檚 never meant for Banquo to become king, it鈥檚 always been meant for Banquo鈥檚 descendants. Now we get to question the prophecy in these new ways. Can I not be king because I鈥檓 a woman?鈥�
The prophecy promises Banquo鈥檚 children will become a dynasty of monarchs; 鈥淵our children and your children鈥檚 children are set up for life,鈥� Gray says. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e probably going to want to take it. But, prophecies are tricky right? Do you need to intervene or not? Macbeth feels like he needs to act so that the prophecy comes true.鈥� Gray believes that Banquo wants her prophecy to come true as well, but that she is unsure of how to guarantee it. 鈥淚 think she鈥檚 really torn,鈥� the actor says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a whole moment where she鈥檚 really considering taking action to make it come true. And then Fleance comes out and catches her and they have this moment where she hands over all her weapons to her child.鈥�
Though Banquo is often played as an upstanding character, Gray鈥檚 approach embraces the role鈥檚 potential moral ambiguity. 鈥淪o many people love to talk about Banquo being the moral compass. I don鈥檛 know that I agree.鈥� She explains, 鈥淚 think the only difference between Banquo and Macbeth is he has a Lady Macbeth encouraging the behavior and I have a kid to protect.鈥�
For Gray, connecting with Banquo鈥檚 motivations as a parent has been a new experience as it is her first time playing a parent on stage since becoming one. 鈥淭hose are fun nuances to explore now that I really understand them,鈥� she says. Gray鈥檚 experience as a mother is also mirrored by her knowledge as a child of military parents. 鈥淚n rehearsals, I鈥檝e been wearing my mom鈥檚 last pair of fatigues and boots that she had before she retired. The fatigues, they鈥檙e stiff and pretty crisp still from her having starched them so many times,鈥� the actor shares.
鈥淎 ritual that military people have is to wake up every morning and polish their boots,鈥� Gray states. 鈥淎nd I know how to do it.鈥� For her, the military habits Gray is familiar with add to the play鈥檚 exploration of ritual, layering on top of the ways it already does through witchcraft and prophecy.
Delving into Banquo as a soldier does not end there for the actor. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to explore those military shapes, what we think of as masculine shapes that are square and flat as they teach in military basic training to be ready to attack,鈥� she shares. Gray continues on thought that 鈥淭hey鈥檙e also shapes to stay in your lane and know your position inside the power structure.鈥�
That double-edged sword of those shapes that Gray explores and the resulting investigation into the ways power structures are upheld is integral to this production. 鈥淭here are all these questions that come up around power in structure, why it has to be the way it is, and can the structures change.鈥� She goes on, 鈥淲e鈥檝e been questioning power structures for the last 2, 6, 15 years depending on who you ask or all of humanity. We鈥檙e in a moment right now dealing with autocrats, and I think the power structures and power struggles that you witness in our production are going to really resonate.鈥�
Macbeth presents audiences the chance to see three very different monarchs, three different ways of attaining, maintaining, and using power. For the show鈥檚 audiences, Gray shares 鈥淚 think some of its going to be a little too close to home for people and make people cringe in the best of ways.鈥�
