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MacHomer

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MacHomer
Written byRick Miller
William Shakespeare
Date premiered1995
Original languageEnglish
SubjectWilliam Shakespeare
The Simpsons
GenreComedy
Parody
Official site

MacHomeris a one-person play byRick Millerwhich blendsWilliam Shakespeare's tragedyMacbethwith the animated television seriesThe Simpsons.Miller conceived the idea in 1994, when he was performing in a production ofMacbeth.The first performance ofMacHomerwas at the Montreal Fringe Festival in 1995.MacHomerhas been re-written a number of times. The early version of the play was more of astand-upcomedy routine, but in 2000, it was expanded into a theatrical production. In 2006, for the 10th anniversary tour, Miller further revamped the play, adding new songs and characters, and incorporating videos.

The script of the play "remains 85% Shakespeare" and mostly follows the plot ofMacbeth.Miller performs the various roles using voices fromThe Simpsonscharacters, using more than 50 voices. The set includes a video screen at the back of the stage, and sound and video effects are incorporated into the performance. Miller has performed the play in over 150 cities around the world, including performances at theEdinburgh Festival Fringe,theMelbourne International Comedy Festival,and theJust for Laughscomedy festival.

MacHomerhas received largely positive reviews from critics, with praise going to Miller's impersonations. However, some critics felt that the play seems more like a group of sketches, while others felt that Miller'sHomer Simpsonvoice was one of his weaker impersonations. According to Miller,The SimpsonscreatorMatt Groeningis a fan of the play and gave him permission to perform it.

History[edit]

According to Rick Miller,The SimpsonscreatorMatt Groeningapproved of the play.

Canadian comedian Rick Miller conceived the idea of blendingThe Simpsonsand Shakespeare in 1994. At the time, Miller was performing in a production ofMacbeth,playing the minor role of Murderer No. 2. He said, "That's a small role, so I had a lot of time to sit backstage and concoct ideas, one of which was to make fun of our production. By then,The Simpsonshad become a big part of pop culture, so I decided to do the voices of those cartoon characters in my mangled version of the play. "[1]He performed a skit at that night's closing party, which was well received.[1]

According to Miller, he does "half ofMacBethbecause you can only carry the joke so far. The rest is a mix of ‘Simpsonisms.’ "[2] At first, he "did the show as a sort of brutally editedColes Notesversion of the play, "while still keeping thelanguage.[1]Miller believes the fusion works well because "The SimpsonsandMacbethare both about dysfunctional families. The TV show's lasted because it has this basic humanity, while the play is one of Shakespeare's shortest, bloodiest works and has some of his best-known lines. "[1]

The first performance ofMacHomerwas at the Montreal Fringe Festival in 1995. At the time, the play "was a very basic version with a fewslidesand me at a mike stand. "[3]Miller began touring the following year.[3]He has consistently changed parts of the play since its premiere. Until 2000,MacHomerwas mainly a sketch comedy routine, but that year he expanded it into more of a theatrical production. The overhaul was Miller's effort "to turn it into a play I could feel comfortable touring the world with, as opposed to just playing the odd college."[3]In 2006, for the 10th anniversary tour, Miller further revamped the play, adding new songs and characters, and incorporating videos.[4]As of 2011,MacHomeris presented by WYRD Productions and directed by Sean Lynch. The lighting and stage design are by Beth Kates.[5]

Initially, Miller worried that lawyers forThe Simpsonswould try to stop him from performing the play. At the 2000Edinburgh Festival Fringe,the cast members of the television series were performing a special reading of dialog that featured their characters. When the producers found out that Miller was also at the festival, they invited him to a cast party. There he metThe SimpsonscreatorMatt Groening,who had previously seen a video ofMacHomer.According to Miller, "next thing I knew, Matt Groening was shaking my hand, was giving me his blessing and was telling me he'd do all he could to help me continue my show. It's the best situation I could have dreamed of. No one is suing me, or asking for royalties, either."[6]

Miller retiredMacHomerin 2012, after 17 years of performance.[7]

Contents[edit]

The script of the play "remains 85% Shakespeare"[8]and mostly follows the plot ofMacbeth,although lines from other Shakespeare plays are included.[9]MacHomerfeatures, according to theSan Francisco Chronicle,"clever rearrangements of lines, crosscuttings between scenes, sometimes topical interpolations and assignment of roles to cartoon entities [...]."[9]During theMacBethportion, Miller performs the various roles using voices fromThe Simpsonscharacters. He does more than 50 voices. For example,Homer SimpsonisMacbeth,Marge SimpsonisLady Macbeth,Mr. BurnsisKing Duncan,Ned FlandersisBanquo[1]andBarney GumbleisMacduff.[5]Miller also includes some non-Simpsonscharacters, such asKermit the Frog.[9]Sound and video effects are incorporated into the performance as well. According to critic Nelson Pressley ofThe Washington Post,"you have to giveMacHomerawfully high marks for technical difficulty. "[10]At the back of the stage, there is a monitor which shows various images, including 200 drawings made by Miller.[6]There is also a video camera hidden in a cauldron, so that when Miller looks into it, his face can be seen on the screen.[10]Halfway through the play, he puts on a puppet show, which recaps the play to that point.[10]

Miller ends the show with a performance ofQueen's song "Bohemian Rhapsody".[11]The song is not tied in withThe SimpsonsorMacBeth.Instead, Miller does impersonations of 25 different famous singers.[12]

Performances[edit]

Miller has performed the play in over 150 cities around the world.[6]He says that he "tours sporadically, partly because I don't like to perform it straight on for months, but also because I have to fit in all my other projects."[3]Miller has performed it at a number of festivals, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe,[13]theMelbourne International Comedy Festival[14]and theJust for Laughscomedy festival inMontreal.[6]On June 4, 2011 it was announced thatMacHomerwould be part of the 2012Stratford Shakespeare FestivalinStratford, Ontario.[15]

Reception[edit]

MacHomerhas received largely positive reviews from critics. Janos Gereben of theSan Francisco Examinerpraised Miller's performance, but felt that "It's an often funny, entertaining series of vaguely related sketches, held together only by the performer, not the material. A warning:MacHomerwon’t likely speak to those who aren'tSimpsonsmaniacs, or at least familiar with the characters. Conversely, those 'd'oh!' people shouldn't miss it. "[12]Nelson Pressley of theWashington Postcalled Miller's performance a "vocal tour de force", but wrote that "like a guy busting a cinder block with his forehead, Miller awes more than he delights, so it's nice that he adds value at the end by serving up hilarious vocal impressions of singers ranging fromTom WaitstoAndrea Bocelli."[10]Writing for theModesto Bee,Lisa Millegan felt that "If any of the actors fromThe Simpsonsever quit, the producers should call Miller to fill in. He nails the voices for everybody, switching effortlessly from Homer to Marge to Mr. Burns and beyond. [...] Amazingly, he manages to use much of Shakespeare's dialogue while lightening it up with humorousasidesand pop culture references. The story is sometimes hard to follow because Miller moves so fast, but a synopsis is printed in the program for those who want it. "[11]

Jason Blake of theSydney Morning Heraldwrote that "Miller is adept at nailing the voices, and extraordinarily fast when switching between them. His impersonation ofDan Castellaneta's Homer is probably the least accurately focused of the set but his Marge is creepily spot-on, as is his Barney Gumble. "[16]According to Gereben, "There are some misses, especially and surprisingly Miller's Homer characterization. He just doesn’t sound like our man in all his glory."[12]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdeGallagher, Noel (30 April 2005)."'The Simpsons' meet Shakespeare ".The London Free Press.Archived from the original on 15 January 2013.Retrieved6 February2011.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^Conter, Jenna (3 February 2011)."Shakespeare gets married to 'Simpsonisms'".Halifax Metro News.Archived fromthe originalon 4 February 2011.Retrieved6 February2011.
  3. ^abcdHurwitt, Robert (5 August 2010)."'MacHomer' is back - doh! ".San Francisco Chronicle.Retrieved6 February2011.
  4. ^"Rick Miller's MacHomer Brings Macbeth To Springfield".Broadway World. 13 February 2009.Retrieved6 February2011.
  5. ^abBarnard, Elissa (5 February 2011)."Rick Miller's MacHomer a razzle dazzle marvel".The Chronicle Herald.Archived fromthe originalon 10 February 2011.Retrieved6 February2011.
  6. ^abcd"Rick Miller brings his one-man MacHomer for... mmm... pizza".Montreal Gazette.Canada. 11 July 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 9 November 2012.Retrieved6 February2011.
  7. ^Liner, Elaine (14 November 2012)."BeforeMacHomerEnds After 17 Years, an Interview with the Guy BringingMacbethandThe SimpsonsTogether in Dallas ".Dallas Observer.Retrieved14 September2023.
  8. ^"About MacHomer".MacHomer.Retrieved6 February2011.
  9. ^abcHurwitt, Robert (26 January 2006)."Bard, 'Simpsons' make potent cocktail".San Francisco Chronicle.Retrieved6 February2011.
  10. ^abcdPressley, Nelson (10 October 2008)."MacHomer".Washington Post.Archived fromthe originalon 11 November 2012.Retrieved6 February2011.
  11. ^abMillegan, Lisa (14 December 2008)."'Simpsons' in Macbeth clever fun ".Modesto Bee.Retrieved6 February2011.
  12. ^abcGereben, Janos (5 August 2010)."Grand finale for 'MacHomer'".San Francisco Examiner.Archived fromthe originalon 17 June 2011.Retrieved6 February2011.
  13. ^Brett, Jennifer (25 August 2009)."Homer Simpson meets the Bard in 'MacHomer'".The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.Access Atlanta. Archived fromthe originalon 8 March 2012.Retrieved6 February2011.
  14. ^Cathcart, Michael (4 May 2001)."MacHomer: The Simpsons Do MacBeth".Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  15. ^Portman, Jamie (5 June 2011)."Plummer returns to Stratford in 2012 with one-man show".Vancouver Sun.Retrieved25 June2011.
  16. ^Blake, Jason (8 January 2010)."MacHomer".Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved6 February2011.

External links[edit]

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