I guess it’s not bad luck to say the name of “the Scottish play” if it’s not being performed inside a theater.

For their annual September Shakespeare production, Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks has selected perhaps the ultimate political thriller, William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” A perfectly spooky, bloody play for the start of autumn, this production delighted an audience of all ages on Saturday afternoon at Frick Park.

Now, far be it from me to recommend that anyone sit out in the rain, but the occasional drizzles and chill breeze beneath a circle of trees were a perfect complement to the foreboding nature of “Macbeth,” especially this lean and tense production. The play comes in at just under two hours with no intermission — and absolutely no brakes from the opening scene on.

Accentuated by an ever-present dramatic drumbeat, off-kilter strings and the bang of offstage thunder, “Macbeth” begins with the appearance of the Weird Sisters, a trio of witches (Catherine Baird, Destiny Mwafor and PSIP artistic director Jennifer Tober). After Macbeth, a thane and general in the king of Scotland’s military, discovers from the prophetic witches that he will someday be king, his (and his wife, Lady Macbeth’s) machinations are quickly put into place, and a series of murders and calculations lead to his inevitable ruin.

It’s definitely one of Shakespeare’s more potent tragedies.

It’s also an infinitely quotable play; if you’ve ever heard “something wicked this way comes” or “screw your courage to the sticking place” or “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing,” you’ve got “Macbeth” to thank.

Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks’ production was adapted and directed by Nick Hrutkay, and it’s perfectly designed to be action-packed and ominous all the way through, from the opening scene with its white shroud-covered corpses to the ending battle. But Hrutkay still coaxes emotional moments from the fast-paced production, especially from a grief-stricken Macduff (Joanna Getting in an exceptional turn). The thrust configuration of the staging and the actors’ entrances and exits through the crowd pulled the audience even closer into the action.

The title character in this staging is portrayed by Aaron Crutchfield, who is at times fierce but also a calm presence that contrasts the energy of his wife (Tober, in the second of three roles for her). His delivery of the “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” soliloquy is heartbreaking.

Tober’s Lady Macbeth is clever and sly to start, but the actress hits every beat of the Lady’s descent into madness. Her monologuing is unsurpassed, the audience hanging on her every word. She and her two fellow witches were also a highlight, with their creepy singsong-y line delivery and a whole range of hissing and screeching that will send a shiver down your spine.

Their goosebump-inducing scenes were enhanced by music and sound effects from music director Matt Calvetti, but also by the configuration of the “stage” which allowed audience members from all sides to get an up-close look at the characters’ dynamic movements.

That went for the in-your-face fight choreography from Tanya Lynn, as well, with the clanging of clashing swords ringing out through the park at several points in the play. Set design (Samantha Kuchta) was mostly unadorned and functional, but added into the dark aura of the play, as well as the punk-meets-fantasy-meets-horror costuming by Ricky Lyle. PSIP always finds some unique ways to bring these plays to life, but in the end, it’s all about the actors’ delivery of the words, words, words.

Whoops, sorry, wrong Shakespeare tragedy.

With showtimes in four more parks during upcoming weekends, all free and open to the public, there’s no reason to skip Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks’ “Macbeth.” It’s timeless, intriguing, atmospheric and very bloody fun.

“Macbeth” will be performed at Riverview Park on the North Side from Sept. 12-14; at Hazelwood Green from Sept. 19-21; at Highland Park from Sept. 26-28 and Oct. 3-5; and at Westinghouse Park from Oct. 10-12. To learn more about showtimes and directions, visit pittsburghshakespeare.org.

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