Macbeth' is a brilliant play and is rightfully seen as one of the most important pieces of the Bard's canon. The problem is that because it is produced so often that it follows certain patterns that although iconic have kind of become bored and tired. BBC's 'Macbeth' knows what people want to see in a production of this play and thus it follows conventions sometimes to the tee. As a production it makes very safe choices but overall I think it is a well made and well acted production of 'Macbeth' if not a very conventional and sometimes flawed one.
I'd like to comment on the aesthetic of the play. In general every adaptation I have seen of 'Macbeth' actively tries to create a dark and often dirty world. BBC's production is no different and I get the feeling that it may have been one of the prime originators of this idea. The play is entirely set on a stage of stone and gravel with the only constant being dirt intertwining. In the realm of lightning nothing remotely close to sunlight is seen as this world is in perpetual blackness and fog. Aesthetically it is interesting to look at to be sure but I think the choice is not a smart one. When we enter this world we already know the foreboding notion of dirt and darkness and so this choice is unnecessary. This already troubling atmosphere from the start kind of makes the two faced nature of the play less engaging and not subtle at all. We see the "serpent" constantly on top instead of the "innocent flower". I personally would have preferred a 'Macbeth' set in a world of eerie calmness where we do not expect to see this kind of play to take place. The play is about a descent into filthiness and blackness and it would have been more interesting if the production had taken that approach. Again I acknowledge the fact that talented set, costuming, and lighting designers are here in 'Macbeth' and they do a very good job creating a world but I kind of question the overall effectiveness of the world they create.
Nicol Williamson's portrayal of Macbeth is interesting in some ways. The constant is that he seems very disconnected with the world around him. It is a conscious choice and to his credit he really religiously sticks to it. This choice works brilliantly for some of the monologues and soliloquies particularly the "Is this a dagger which I see before me" scene. Williamson's choice though kind of hurts his performance when Macbeth needs to interact with the other characters as he really seems out of focus. As the play progresses though I mind less as the choice begins to fall into place with the text and fit. There's a wonderful fake ness in the way Macbeth plays the role of the king which is alienating which I really loved. In this sense it really subtly shows his descent into madness in a very open way. When Williamson goes into extremities such as when Banquo haunts him it kind ventures into over the top scene chewing territory. He has a very animal like raspy breathing pattern which is kind of fun but not really believable. Overall, Williamson has the tools for a great performance but I think he was directed poorly. I think what really could have helped him was developing this character from one point to another and saving the extremities and building upon them.
The least interesting performances come from the witches who merely serve their purpose. Brenda Bruce, Eileen Way, and Anne Dyson play the witches like something you might see in a childish Halloween attraction and that really all there is to be said. They are horrible and cackle and are not really that compelling. What is worse is that they really fail to engage with Macbeth. There has to be something tempting and mysterious about these witches in the midst of their being witches or else they become stereotypes.
My favorite performance comes from Jane Lapotaire as Lady Macbeth who also makes safe acting choices but the execution is well done. Essentially Lapotaire plays Lady Macbeth as an aging woman who gets a sense of sexual gratification out of the entire action of the play. This choice is really really safe and frankly kind of cliché but Lapotaire really is sincere and fully commits. She uses her face beautifully clenching expressions which showcase all the wrinkles in her face. My favorite scene is Lady Macbeth's first piece where she is reading the letter from her husband reaches a point where Lapotaire goes to a bed and practically begins to go through the actions of masturbation. It's a really over the top staging choice but Lapotaire's commitment to it makes it kind of shocking and fun at the very least.
BBC's Macbeth isn't a revolutionary production and it makes very conventional choices but on it's own terms it works. It is a well made and often engaging production of 'Macbeth'. Despite having no surprises it is worth a look.
I'd like to comment on the aesthetic of the play. In general every adaptation I have seen of 'Macbeth' actively tries to create a dark and often dirty world. BBC's production is no different and I get the feeling that it may have been one of the prime originators of this idea. The play is entirely set on a stage of stone and gravel with the only constant being dirt intertwining. In the realm of lightning nothing remotely close to sunlight is seen as this world is in perpetual blackness and fog. Aesthetically it is interesting to look at to be sure but I think the choice is not a smart one. When we enter this world we already know the foreboding notion of dirt and darkness and so this choice is unnecessary. This already troubling atmosphere from the start kind of makes the two faced nature of the play less engaging and not subtle at all. We see the "serpent" constantly on top instead of the "innocent flower". I personally would have preferred a 'Macbeth' set in a world of eerie calmness where we do not expect to see this kind of play to take place. The play is about a descent into filthiness and blackness and it would have been more interesting if the production had taken that approach. Again I acknowledge the fact that talented set, costuming, and lighting designers are here in 'Macbeth' and they do a very good job creating a world but I kind of question the overall effectiveness of the world they create.
Nicol Williamson's portrayal of Macbeth is interesting in some ways. The constant is that he seems very disconnected with the world around him. It is a conscious choice and to his credit he really religiously sticks to it. This choice works brilliantly for some of the monologues and soliloquies particularly the "Is this a dagger which I see before me" scene. Williamson's choice though kind of hurts his performance when Macbeth needs to interact with the other characters as he really seems out of focus. As the play progresses though I mind less as the choice begins to fall into place with the text and fit. There's a wonderful fake ness in the way Macbeth plays the role of the king which is alienating which I really loved. In this sense it really subtly shows his descent into madness in a very open way. When Williamson goes into extremities such as when Banquo haunts him it kind ventures into over the top scene chewing territory. He has a very animal like raspy breathing pattern which is kind of fun but not really believable. Overall, Williamson has the tools for a great performance but I think he was directed poorly. I think what really could have helped him was developing this character from one point to another and saving the extremities and building upon them.
The least interesting performances come from the witches who merely serve their purpose. Brenda Bruce, Eileen Way, and Anne Dyson play the witches like something you might see in a childish Halloween attraction and that really all there is to be said. They are horrible and cackle and are not really that compelling. What is worse is that they really fail to engage with Macbeth. There has to be something tempting and mysterious about these witches in the midst of their being witches or else they become stereotypes.
My favorite performance comes from Jane Lapotaire as Lady Macbeth who also makes safe acting choices but the execution is well done. Essentially Lapotaire plays Lady Macbeth as an aging woman who gets a sense of sexual gratification out of the entire action of the play. This choice is really really safe and frankly kind of cliché but Lapotaire really is sincere and fully commits. She uses her face beautifully clenching expressions which showcase all the wrinkles in her face. My favorite scene is Lady Macbeth's first piece where she is reading the letter from her husband reaches a point where Lapotaire goes to a bed and practically begins to go through the actions of masturbation. It's a really over the top staging choice but Lapotaire's commitment to it makes it kind of shocking and fun at the very least.
BBC's Macbeth isn't a revolutionary production and it makes very conventional choices but on it's own terms it works. It is a well made and often engaging production of 'Macbeth'. Despite having no surprises it is worth a look.