Macbeth

Synopsis

The Scottish Play - theatrical types consider saying its name to be unlucky! Thrust into power by his overwhelming desires and an over ambitious wife, Macbeth finds his only security is to murder and murder again. From "When shall we three meet again" to "is this a dagger I see before me" this is a powerful Shakespearean drama.

Our Review:

19 November 2002

It's always good to see Shakespeare on at a West End theatre, and if you caught director Edward Hall's innovative, abattoir-set Rose Rage, you're probably itching to see what he's done with the bloodbath that is "The Scottish Play".

The trouble is that, if you did see Rose Rage, you'll have already have seen elements of this: the same industrial metal set, the same Latin chanting, the almost ritualistic violence. But where Rose Rage was a furious attack on three plays; this Macbeth seems long and drawn out - and that's with several cuts (mainly witches' scenes, including "hubble, bubble").

Part of the problem is the interval - I think this play is definitely one that works best without one. The scenes are short, after all, and a straight-through approach helps reinforce how quickly the Macbeths are dragged into a maelstrom of murder. Hall elects otherwise here, and his production certainly seems ...

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Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com (81.152.122.160) - 20 February 2003:

Just to point out to whichever silly person who wrote the review on the 22nd November highlighting Sean Bean's use of the word 'Chuck' (as in 'be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck' - III.ii). Before you make disparaging comments about text, check the script - it's in there. ...

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