“Macbeth” (with puppets!) at the Garden District on Sunday, July 7

“Macbeth” (with puppets!) at the Garden District on Sunday, July 7

"By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked (or orange or blue) this way comes."

Second Witch

Macbeth

Act 4, sc. I

On Sunday, July 7 at 2 PM, the Garden District Community Gardens will host a free, live theatrical performance of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Macbeth.

Pocket Park Puppet Players (PPPP) will be performing at 6th and Howard at 2 PM. A second show will happen at Morgan Park, 3400 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., at 4 PM that same day.

Here are the puppets in action at the June 15 performance at Wisconsin Lutheran College. First, a close-up of the “Weird Sisters,” the witches who entice Macbeth with a prophecy of his destiny:

(Photo by Katy Lane.)

Next you will see Macbeth (a Scotsman) and his beleaguered friend Banquo meeting the Weird Sisters for the first time.

(Photo by Jason Haas.)

Finally, because it wouldn’t be a great Shakespeare play without a dramatic sword fight, we bring you… Macbeth and Macduff in a dramatic sword fight! (Spoiler alert: It ends very badly for Macbeth, the usurper.)

(Photo by Jason Haas.)

In a true footnote to history, this will be the first-ever live theatre show (or puppet show) known to have happened at both the Garden District Community Gardens and at Honey Creek Park.

“Shakespeare in the City” tour was produced by Optimist Theatre, a Milwaukee-based theatre company that has produced “Shakespeare in the Park,” here in the city since 2010. This tour includes 40 performances of four plays at 17 locations. Other sites include Bay View, Walker’s Point, Grant Park in South Milwaukee; plus Lincoln Park, Sherman Park, and Washington Park on the north side, Lake Park on the East Side, and Honey Creek Park in West Allis. You can find more information on the company and the tour on the Optimist Theatre website.

The play is 45 minutes long, and totally free to attend. Bring a lawn chair and look for us near the gazebo on S. 6th & Howard.