The Upstage Interview: Karl Graboshas (Repercussion's Macbeth)

Slide show of rehearsal shots of Repercussion's Macbeth

Banquo Speaks


Upstage Host Eric Sukhu spoke with Karl Graboshas, one of the actors in Repercussion Theatre’s Shakespeare In The Park's Macbeth. Below is an abridged version of interview edited by Estelle Rosen, CharPo Editor-in-chief.

UPSTAGE

Is this your first time performing with Shakespeare In The Park? 

GRABOSHAS

First time with Repercussion Theatre.  Have done Shakespeare In The Park in Toronto.  Excited and having a lot of fun. 

It’s been an interesting journey for me to see just how much support I’m lending Macbeth and just how much I’m starting to doubt who this guy really is.


UPSTAGE

Tell us about your role in Macbeth.

GRABOSHAS

Banquo is Macbeth’s right hand man; his best friend. Salt of the earth, loyal guy who has to deal with a lot of the happenings that transpire throughout the play and stay on the right course. It’s been an interesting journey for me to see just how much support I’m lending Macbeth and just how much I’m starting to doubt who this guy really is.

UPSTAGE

For those who  may not know the story, give us an outline.

GRABOSHAS

Traditionally at the top of the show Macbeth and Banquo are coming back from a war, victorious. They come across three witches who basically represent the future, the past and the present. They unload some juicy tidbits of information into Macbeth’s ear. 

The Macbeths

Our contemporary spin on the story is we are coming back from a successful day for ourselves on the stock market whereas everyone else has suffered from a  tremendous crash - sort of 2008-ish if you will. We are visited by three witches who share some information with us. The story starts to unfold from there. 

Macbeth is given information about what’s going to happen to him in his life and he has to make some crucial decisions as to how this is going to unfold. 

He is told he is going to become King of Cawdor. Shortly after the witches disappear, he is informed that he is now the King of  Cawdor... 

...how many people do I have to step on to get what I want. We see this dog eat dog world on a daily basis today.


UPSTAGE

...great play read it in high school one of Shakespeare’s best.

GRABOSHAS

Just like most of his plays, words that are hundreds  of years old are so relevant today. Ambition, greed, and what that does to a human being when they know this is attainable. How am I going to get it, how many people do I have to step on to get what I want. We see this dog eat dog world on a daily basis today. 

UPSTAGE

How do you adapt to the nightly changes being in different parks constantly?

GRABOSHAS

This is going to be interesting for me. I worked with a company in Toronto where we played in one park all the time. 

UPSTAGE

What is Director Arianna Bardesono’s approach? 

GRABOSHAS

Hers is a very physical approach. Getting back to physical exploration which many of us haven’t had the chance to explore as thoroughly since theatre school has been a fantastic way to really get the bits of information needed about our character and about the journey we’re taking. 

Some nights I go home and sit in an epsom salts bath thinking about what exactly went on that day in rehearsal. 

Overall, a very enjoyable experience.

Repercussion Theatre web site
See also CharPo's Real Theatre!
See also Joel Fishbane's discussion of the curse on the play