PLAY : Macbeth
Saw this at the Almeida in Angel, on the recommendation of The Guardian (don't all my recommendations come from there?). It was very popular, and completely sold out in the last week, so I had to hope that I might get a standby, and, fortunately for this review, I did. Means I got a crappy seat, though the theatre (which is like a semicircle) doesn't particularly have 'bad seats', and that the ticket only cost £12!!
What I really got from this production was an appreciation of the script, it has some wonderfully lyrical sections (excessively in some bits, and I love the 'portentious' happenings that all look to point Macbeth in one direction; when alternatives are availble he is blinded by these augers. Some bits were a bit naff, like the scene with Lady Macbeth and the spots, being looked over by the physician and nurse (played by a Sister).
The communication of the text was up and down, I really struggled with some bits, but found other parts hard. They made good use of body language to aid the understanding of the words, and many of the actors did a good job of emphasising the important, summarizing bits (it's great to have a playwrite who summarizes for us plebs!)
I have to admit though that, having heard of all the amazing feats of Macbeth at the beginning of the play, when he walks on stage and is short and fat with bugging eyes, I am not too impressed. He is surrounded by more imposing (and less earnest) characters, and while I guess this was a choice of the director, I also think it was a chance to give this guy a go at the role, you know, cos he's so good :)
I thought that lady Macbeth was excellent, she was so decisive in her logic when emploring Macbeth to do the deed, and then so horrified at the insanity growing in her husband, an insanity she knows is largely her fault. It was nice to have her quite young against the rather old Macbeth; something that would come as no surprise in the situation, but doesn't get done that often in plays.
The Wyrd Sisters really annoyed me, they were on way to much, and couldn't even keep in time when 'speaking as one,' just felt unprofessional. And there were so many kids! about 5 I think, used for various parts (cousins, voice of the Sisters etc) at various times, some times they would all run over the stage as waifs (I mean wraiths, but that's funny) or something. That all really shat me when everyone else was working so hard.
As for the feel of the production it can be summarized in one word : cold. Lots of blue lighting, swirly blue painted walls (they had a few chairs at one ponit or another, but most of the time they just stood rooted to the spot), a constant soundtrack of blowing wind, and large, high status, pauses between words (especially for bug eyed MacBeth). There was a real sense of soullesness, which I guess is what they were going for, but maybe a little contrast, at least with the 'goodies' might have broken the monotony a bit.
My favorite bit? The opening scene of the second half was McDuff's reception of the news of his wife/kids destruction. This scene was fun (the silly prince saying how naughty he is; no king of Scotland!) and then very moving (He doesn't have kids, McDuff dismisses the prince with a wave) and the real highlight of the whole play for me. The rest of the second half was just getting it all over with really :)
BTW, while I was there I saw the marvelous actor Geoffrey Palmer in the audience, from the TV series 'As Time Goes By' with Dame Judy Dench (I am sure he's done other stuff, even stuff I've seen, but I can't think what it is now). He's looking pretty good, but I'll admit I didn't go and bug him, just admired from afar.
What I really got from this production was an appreciation of the script, it has some wonderfully lyrical sections (excessively in some bits, and I love the 'portentious' happenings that all look to point Macbeth in one direction; when alternatives are availble he is blinded by these augers. Some bits were a bit naff, like the scene with Lady Macbeth and the spots, being looked over by the physician and nurse (played by a Sister).
The communication of the text was up and down, I really struggled with some bits, but found other parts hard. They made good use of body language to aid the understanding of the words, and many of the actors did a good job of emphasising the important, summarizing bits (it's great to have a playwrite who summarizes for us plebs!)
I have to admit though that, having heard of all the amazing feats of Macbeth at the beginning of the play, when he walks on stage and is short and fat with bugging eyes, I am not too impressed. He is surrounded by more imposing (and less earnest) characters, and while I guess this was a choice of the director, I also think it was a chance to give this guy a go at the role, you know, cos he's so good :)
I thought that lady Macbeth was excellent, she was so decisive in her logic when emploring Macbeth to do the deed, and then so horrified at the insanity growing in her husband, an insanity she knows is largely her fault. It was nice to have her quite young against the rather old Macbeth; something that would come as no surprise in the situation, but doesn't get done that often in plays.
The Wyrd Sisters really annoyed me, they were on way to much, and couldn't even keep in time when 'speaking as one,' just felt unprofessional. And there were so many kids! about 5 I think, used for various parts (cousins, voice of the Sisters etc) at various times, some times they would all run over the stage as waifs (I mean wraiths, but that's funny) or something. That all really shat me when everyone else was working so hard.
As for the feel of the production it can be summarized in one word : cold. Lots of blue lighting, swirly blue painted walls (they had a few chairs at one ponit or another, but most of the time they just stood rooted to the spot), a constant soundtrack of blowing wind, and large, high status, pauses between words (especially for bug eyed MacBeth). There was a real sense of soullesness, which I guess is what they were going for, but maybe a little contrast, at least with the 'goodies' might have broken the monotony a bit.
My favorite bit? The opening scene of the second half was McDuff's reception of the news of his wife/kids destruction. This scene was fun (the silly prince saying how naughty he is; no king of Scotland!) and then very moving (He doesn't have kids, McDuff dismisses the prince with a wave) and the real highlight of the whole play for me. The rest of the second half was just getting it all over with really :)
BTW, while I was there I saw the marvelous actor Geoffrey Palmer in the audience, from the TV series 'As Time Goes By' with Dame Judy Dench (I am sure he's done other stuff, even stuff I've seen, but I can't think what it is now). He's looking pretty good, but I'll admit I didn't go and bug him, just admired from afar.
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