The Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Macbeth at The Barbican was a mixed bag. There were moments of thrilling suspense and moments of stasis. This production attempted to modernise the original, with modern day costumes and set. The unique portrayal of the three witches as doll-like little girls also added a modern gothic dimension that provided moments of haunting tension. The set was inventive, with a balcony separated by glass, by which the cheerful behaviour of the royal court was initially observed. However, as the play continued the balcony offered glimpses of Banquo’s ghost and Lady Macbeth as her state of mind deteriorated.
The portrayal of Lady Macbeth failed to offer the usual crescendo into madness that one would expect. It was clear that a new interpretation was being attempted, as the character was transformed from the usual sensual and sophisticated hostess into a frantic and overexcited character. This highly erratic beginning meant that there was nowhere for her character to go and Lady Macbeth’s usual descent into madness was flat and failed to shock the audience.
Still, the increased use of the Porter in comparison to the original was an inspired decision. His directing of the characters to violent deeds, through mime, offered a comedic contrast to the intensity of the violent scenes. In particular, the use of chalkboards to count the number of deaths added a new dimension to the play, portraying the bloodthirsty reign of Macbeth in a more visual, and therefore more impactful way.
Overall, this new interpretation of Macbeth was a success, although I found that I missed the historical gothic style set and siren-like Lady Macbeth common in a traditional portrayal of the play.
Even though we did not all connect with this interpretation, it is always enlightening to experience different interpretations of Shakespeare, which will aid us as we continue to study his works.
Review by Maria Wall (C)
