From Sept. 27-29, the American Shakespeare Center brought the power of theatre to Loyola University. Showing two Shakespearean classics, “Macbeth” and “The Taming of the Shrew,” as well as an on-stage adaption of Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility,” the company showed off their versatility and tremendous talent to exceed expectations.

A production of “Macbeth” kicked off the three-day residency on Wednesday. The show featured a flare for the dramatic with sword fighting, murders, and supernatural witches aplenty.

“I thought the portrayal of the witches was fun,” Sean Mizoguchi ’20 said. “They were crazed and dressed in rich colors, which made me pay attention.”

The company then premiered its adaptation of “Sense and Sensibility” for audiences the next night. Transitioning into Austen’s satire was smooth and full of wit. A highlight was the decision to gender-bend the casting, a practice that ASC often uses. In particular, Topher Embrey, who played old Mrs. Jennings in full drag, added dynamics and hilarity to the performance.

To wrap up the trio of performances, ASC concluded with Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” Performing both Shakespeare’s tragedies and comedies, the group showed the versatility of Shakespeare’s plays.

“It was clear that the cast spent a lot of time with the text,” Caitlin Dwinnell ’20 said. “All of Shakespeare’s comedy read well to the modern audience. Everyone was laughing and it was a great time.”

The ASC also gave a series of lectures and acting workshops to a variety of classes. One such workshop, led by Kyle Powell, touched on rhetoric and its role in theatre. Powell instructed the participants how the art of persuasion plays such a big role in every decision an actor makes for a performance.

As something that some consider to be somewhat fading in arts and society, theatre was brought to life in a whole new light by the American Shakespeare Center. The touring troupe reminded audiences that the power of live theatre cannot be duplicated or experienced elsewhere. It is a singular, unique experience that brings joy and insightful entertainment to the audience.