His director says nice things about him as does his co-star. But getting George Hansen to discuss his upcoming performance in Flatwater Shakespeare Company’s production of “Macbeth” is a little like solving the mysteries on the television drama “Lost” — it’s not easy.

The humble Hansen doesn’t think he deserves any more attention than anyone else. Usually cast in supporting roles, he’s also not used to being the one with all the lines.

“I’m not thinking about the challenge,” said Hansen, who will portray the play’s namesake when it opens Thursday at the Haymarket Theatre.

Directed by Flatwater artistic director Bob Hall, “Macbeth” is the first of Flatwater’s three Shakespeare productions this season and also stars Melissa Lewis as Lady Macbeth.

 “I know (Macbeth is) a big challenge,” Hansen said. “It’s one of the biggest roles in Shakespeare, but I can’t think too much about it or I’ll have a nervous breakdown.”

He’s kidding (we think), but he’s definitely right about one thing: The role is bigger than big.

“Macbeth” is one of Shakespeare’s most intense and haunting tragedies.

The story revolves around Macbeth, a courageous Scottish general, who receives a prophecy from a trio of sinister witches — “Double double, toil and trouble, something wicked this way comes!” — that one day he will become king of Scotland.

Consumed with ambition and spurred to action by his just-as-ambitious wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan (David Landis) and seizes the throne.

He begins his reign wracked with guilt and fear, but still becomes a tyrannical ruler, committing more and more murders as he tries to protect himself and his dynasty from suspicion, political unrest and rebellion.

Because the role is so daunting, Hansen was at the top of director Bob Hall’s short list to perform it.

Hansen is a veteran actor, one of a handful of Lincoln performers with an Equity (professional) card.

But most of Hansen’s roles have been supportive and often comical. He stole every scene he was in as the thick-headed Dogberry in the Hall-directed “Much Ado About Nothing” in 2002.

“It’s been such a long time since I’ve been a leading man that I’ve almost forgotten how to be a leading man,” Hansen said.

That didn’t deter Hall, however, from casting Hansen as Macbeth.

 “There were a lot of things that seemed right about George,” Hall said. “He’s a very gentle sort of person, yet he has a rapport with Macbeth on some level.

“He mustn’t play him as a villain, then the play is not worth watching. You have to understand the character. I think George does.”

Lewis, who co-starred with Hansen in the Hall-directed adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” said the actor was the reason she signed on for the Flatwater production.

“It very much hinged on who was going to play Macbeth,” said Lewis, whose recent credits include TADA Productions’ “Beehive” and “Into the Woods” at the Lincoln Community Playhouse.

Shakespeare’s play requires a very intense relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, Lewis said.

“I can’t imagine doing the show with someone I don’t have complete trust with,” she said. “George and I have had a wonderful time finding the relationship between these two people.”

Hansen coyly admitted he was having a good time with his strenuous role, noting it’s required a lot of concentration on his part.

“About 2 hours and 15 minutes of concentration,” he said. “Hopefully, it’s just 2 hours and 15 minutes and not longer.”

He even elaborated on a question about how he intends to play Macbeth.

 “He’s changed since I started,” he said. “I had him feeling sensitive about things that bothered him. I’m turning him more into a psychopath when things aren’t going right for him.”

For Hansen, that was saying a lot.

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.

If you go

What: “Macbeth,” Flatwater Shakespeare Company

Where: Haymarket Theatre, Eighth and Q streets

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday through March 25, March 30-April 1, April 6-7; 2 p.m. March 26 and April 2

Tickets: $18, $15 for students and senior citizens; 484-7640