I saw photos and fanart from this theatrical production when it was running, and I was so glad to hear it was given a proshot recording! I nabbed a free trial of Marquee TV so I could watch it (along with Richard II, also starring David Tennant!) While I wouldn’t quite put it up with the best Shakespeare recordings I’ve watched, it’s still pretty cool.
The Scottish thane Macbeth is accosted by three witches who promise him greatness beyond his wild imaginings. He doesn’t think much of it to begin with, but when part of their prophecy comes true, he starts to wonder about the ultimate prize they dangled before him: could he really become king? As Macbeth sets out to make the prophecy a reality, urged on by his ambitious wife, he realizes that the crown comes with a high cost.
First things first, this production just looks cool. It’s a very minimalist set, essentially a white square with stark lighting, which makes details like blood stand out even more. When members of the ensemble aren’t in a scene, they sit or stand along the edge of the stage and sometimes provide eerie effects. For example, rather than having the witches as three distinct characters, their dialogue is passed between the ensemble, so the witches’ whispers seem to come at Macbeth from everywhere.
I think this might be a tricky production to watch if you didn’t already know this story. I could be wrong, but I feel like those cool minimalist elements and more abstract staging could make it harder to follow what’s happening onstage. So I’d say it’s probably best enjoyed by those already familiar with the play.
I liked it quite a bit. It definitely highlights the spooky elements, with the characters sometimes speaking in haunting whispers. That makes more grounded moments, like Banquo talking with his son, stand out. The drunken porter is also a highlight, throwing in some crowd work with his dialogue—I laughed at, “Front row seats! Look at you, you must be loaded, eh? Give me your wallet.” Besides Tennant, the only familiar actor to me was Cush Jumbo, who I recently saw as June on Criminal Record. She plays Lady Macbeth with appropriate steeliness. I especially liked her “Infirm of purpose!”
And then, of course, we have David Tennant as Macbeth. Giving another shoutout to the aesthetics of the production, his costume looks really great! When this production was running, I saw multiple people online expressing gender envy over it, and that tracks—he looks fantastic.
It took me a little while to warm up to Tennant’s performance here. At the beginning, for my money, he leans a little too far into the suspense/creepy atmosphere at the expense of clarity. His early soliloquies come in ominous, somber half-whispers. To me, they feel a little more recited than spoken. But Tennant draws me in more as the play goes on, especially as Macbeth gets more desperate to hold onto what he’s gained. His “She should have died hereafter” is excellent, and I love his “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow” speech.
Accent Watch
Scottish.
Recommend?
In General – I think so. Like I said, it’s not quite top-tier for me, but it’s a cool production with excellent design and a great spooky atmosphere.
David Tennant – Yeah. When he hits those high moments, he’s really, really good.
Warnings
Strong thematic elements (including child murder,) staged violence, drinking, and disturbing images.
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