Macbeth

Following on from my 'discovering' Slings & Arrows, my good friend 'Mr Henry' treated me to a visit to the Gielgud Theatre to watch Rupert Goold's production of Macbeth.

Patrick Stewart plays Macbeth, on a stark set dominated (and often lit) by a massive lift entrance. Other persistent set pieces are a battered fridge, an ancient television set, some tables and a large sink.

The atmosphere is enhanced by 'make you jump' sound effects and huge images projected onto the brick walls of the set.

I don't watch much theatre. And I'm not used to the (archaic/opaque) Shakespearean prose. Sometimes it reminded me of listening to a Bob Dylan song, you don't fully understand what the words mean, and yet you still understand the emotions that they are conveying.

The main actors performed superbly. Macbeth is intense, a man used to war, morally torn and defiantly aware that he is caught up in something beyond his control.

The relationship between Macbeth and his wife (Kate Fleetwood) moves from Lady Macbeth being a dominant, sexually aggressive woman to a broken, tormented creature.

The Weird Sisters (I'm told) were played a little differently from usual, but they were appropriately sinister, going about their witchly duties in an unsettling and efficient manner.

I enjoyed Macbeth very much. Mr Henry is even now searching out another play for us to visit. This time it's my treat.
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