For Victor's birthday, yesterday we went to see Macbeth at the Shakespeare Theatre downtown. The one review I'd seen had been a bit lukewarm, but we both really like the play...and how bad can you screw up Shakespeare, anyway?
It wasn't bad. I really liked the overall production...the black and white set design, the use of light and shadow...but I wasn't altogether impressed with the interpretations of Macbeth or Lady Macbeth. I wasn't sure if I was just being nitpicky until the end of the first act, when Victor's first remark was "I didn't think Lady Macbeth was such a crybaby."
So the Post's review pretty much nailed it with "From her initial, rapturous strategizing to her final haunted derangement, this Lady Macbeth is always near hysterics. The tears come too easily for her. It's difficult to credit her as the plotting, incendiary seducer, the gasoline on Macbeth's fire."
As for Macbeth himself...this summer we saw a production done by a local youth theater in which Macbeth was played by three actors, one portraying the man himself, and two sharing his monologues as his Id and Superego. It was a really effective method of developing the character. In this version, Macbeth seemed to be more of a rapid-cycling manic-depressive than someone wrestling with his urges and morals.
Less major parts, like the porter's equivicator scene, were really good.
Completely unrealted to the play...I got a kick out of signs posted all over the theater lobby that said
We are OUT of GINGERBREAD.
We do apologize for any inconvenience.
Can you imagine, a play without gingerbread? At least the apology seemed sincere.
We also had a very nice lunch at Andale. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, check out the Dia de los Muertos display in the window (on the D Street side, I think)...those marzipan skulls fascinate me and creep me out at the same time. And go in for some guacamole while you're at it.
Posted by Nic at September 26, 2004 07:37 AM