The Tragedy of MacBeth
Blues riff? “If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have no luck at all.”
Discovered in my various media feeds, a perfect Valentine show: Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of MacBeth.
But ’tis strange;
And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,
The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
Win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s
In deepest consequence.
Banquo (I.iii.122)
There are two outside sources, three, but one I couldn’t get the DVD player to work in time, so move on. I have a DVD of an RSC production of with young (Sir) Ian McKellen and (Dame) Judi Dench in titular roles. Haven’t watched a DVD in so long, I couldn’t get it to display. I tend to return to the incomparable Emma Smith material, in this case an older podcast lecture about MacBeth, and closed it out with finally seeing the Fassbender version of the movie, on streaming services. I still want to see that aged RSC version.
The Micheal Fassbender version is bloody, deeply atmospheric, and violent, almost comically so. Good, though, as a singular look at one interpretation of the text. Brilliant staging, classical over-the-top understated acting.
The (Dr.) Emma Smith essay, I liked the audio, posits a question about who is in charge, the gods, the fates, or humanity itself? The weird sisters? Makes for a valuable tool to understand pieces of the play.
First “knock knock” joke in literary history, followed by keen observations.
MacDuff: What three things does drink especially provoke?
Porter: Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep, and urine. Lechery, sir, it provokes, and unprovokes: it provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance. Therefore much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery: it makes him, and it mars him; it sets him on, and it takes him off; it persuades him, and disheartens him; makes him stand to, and not stand to; in conclusion, equivocates him in a sleep, and giving him the lie, leaves him.
(II.iii.11-2)
The Tragedy of MacBeth
On Friday the 13th? Even better.
The Tragedy of MacBeth
This version in Austin? The setting is supposed to be Africa, and the backdrop was minimal in the staging, sticking with a classical-like stage arrangement, with a huge video screen as a backdrop. Looked like an airy savanna instead of the usual war-torn Scotland.
The strength of the show and certainly the strength of this performance, is the two lead character, Mr. and Mrs. MacBeth. Veteran actors, with notable performances by both.
Lady MacBeth? “She crazy,” huh. Who’d a thunk it?
After the bloody films, the stage action — following the script — the text by Shakespeare? The stage action was relatively tame.
However? The performance was outstanding. Not just good, but really amazing.
The first three acts flew along. The witches were fun.
As a preview version, Friday the 13th, in Austin, it was a little cheaper, I guess, the riser seating fully filled up. The cursed play on the cursed day. Great fun.
The lighting crew missed a couple of cues. That’s the only critique, well, the end also had missed entrance, two characters talking over each other. That weighs against the way the main character, good ole Lord MacBeth was lit. Something about the red light from one side and blue light from the other, drawing crags and adding gravity to his performance.
Just excellent.
As his foil, Lady MacBeth was excellent, but the strength of the role goes to him, carrying the weight of the production, and doing so really well.
“What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.” (I.ii.67)
The Tragedy of MacBeth
At the Long Center in Austin.
Across the street from Sandy’s.
#shakespeare
