Macbeth Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh 8th February 2023 Review
Macbeth or more correctly Macbeth (an undoing) by Zinnie Harris is at the Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh from 4 February to 25 February and if you think you know this play, then be prepared for more than a few surprises in this adaptation of William Shakespeare’s classic work.
In truth, this play should probably be called “Lady Macbeth” as writer/director Zinnie Harris takes the focus for this whole work away from Macbeth himself to the real instigator of the plot to kill King Duncan and the woman who was all too briefly to become the real power behind the throne, the real King of Scotland in all but name.
Zinnie Harris is without any doubt a major force in contemporary theatre with an impressive list of achievements to her credit, but can even a writer/director of this skill level find anything new to say in a work that has been performed in so many variants to date? Surprisingly the answer to that question is YES. There is something about Shakespeare’s plays that seem to make them universally understood and able to be set in endlessly different times. This is proven again tonight as we are set in a timeline that has a recognisable military reference point…or does it? Are we in WW1 or WW2? Which war we are never really sure to be honest, but the social setting of our cast indicate the 1930s that people of wealth and power would have enjoyed.
With a skilled hand, Zinnie Harris has given Lady Macbeth (Nicole Cooper) the centre stage of this play and examines in some detail her relentless scheming and manipulation of her husband Macbeth (Adam Best) for even more power and wealth. In this twist to an old tale, it is Lady Macbeth who is responsible for ordering some of the darkest deeds normally attributed to her husband. Many other issues explored in this Lady Macbeth give a very layered picture of who this woman really was, her many inner fears and the, sadly, still very contemporary problem that many men still have, dealing with a woman of power as exactly that, a woman of power, not one taking on a male role, and there is a huge difference in that simple fact.
Bringing Lady Macbeth to life on stage, Nicole Cooper was impressive all evening as the many different women that her character became. With Nicole Cooper firmly stamping her identity on this new Lady Macbeth, the slide from a woman of absolute confidence to one driven eventually insane by remorse of her actions was powerful theatre to watch.
Taking a similar path, but this time one manipulated by another, Adam Best as Macbeth gave us everything that we have come to expect from this role in a more standard setting as well as much more when his character was viewed through different eyes and a different perspective.
This work may be Macbeth but with a power and focus shift to Lady Macbeth, but all of the most loved elements are here too as supernatural forces, the three witches, prophesies and ghosts of the mind are all still here. Interestingly though, our three witches also get an update, and again this is in line with perceptions old and new. There is also much humour in these new witches and Liz Kettle as Carlin often steals many scenes on this production.
All of the other main characters are here too, and Jade Ogugua is as Lady Macduff always a fine counterbalance to Lady Macbeth in their scenes together.
Macbeth or Macbeth (an undoing), this one is well worth taking the time out to see, and even at a 3 hour performance time (including interval) this story pulls you completely into its web of political power and intrigue and the time seems to pass all too quickly.
Cast
Nicole Cooper Lady Macbeth
Adam Best Macbeth
James Robinson Banquo
Jade Ogugua Lady Macduff
Liz Kettle Carlin
Star Penders Missy
Taqi Nazeer Bloody Soldier / Lennox
Paul Tinto Macduff / Doctor / Courtier 1
Laurie Scott Ross / Murderer 1
Marc Mackinnon Duncan / Murderer 3 / Courtier
Review by Tom King © 2023
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com
In truth, this play should probably be called “Lady Macbeth” as writer/director Zinnie Harris takes the focus for this whole work away from Macbeth himself to the real instigator of the plot to kill King Duncan and the woman who was all too briefly to become the real power behind the throne, the real King of Scotland in all but name.
Zinnie Harris is without any doubt a major force in contemporary theatre with an impressive list of achievements to her credit, but can even a writer/director of this skill level find anything new to say in a work that has been performed in so many variants to date? Surprisingly the answer to that question is YES. There is something about Shakespeare’s plays that seem to make them universally understood and able to be set in endlessly different times. This is proven again tonight as we are set in a timeline that has a recognisable military reference point…or does it? Are we in WW1 or WW2? Which war we are never really sure to be honest, but the social setting of our cast indicate the 1930s that people of wealth and power would have enjoyed.
With a skilled hand, Zinnie Harris has given Lady Macbeth (Nicole Cooper) the centre stage of this play and examines in some detail her relentless scheming and manipulation of her husband Macbeth (Adam Best) for even more power and wealth. In this twist to an old tale, it is Lady Macbeth who is responsible for ordering some of the darkest deeds normally attributed to her husband. Many other issues explored in this Lady Macbeth give a very layered picture of who this woman really was, her many inner fears and the, sadly, still very contemporary problem that many men still have, dealing with a woman of power as exactly that, a woman of power, not one taking on a male role, and there is a huge difference in that simple fact.
Bringing Lady Macbeth to life on stage, Nicole Cooper was impressive all evening as the many different women that her character became. With Nicole Cooper firmly stamping her identity on this new Lady Macbeth, the slide from a woman of absolute confidence to one driven eventually insane by remorse of her actions was powerful theatre to watch.
Taking a similar path, but this time one manipulated by another, Adam Best as Macbeth gave us everything that we have come to expect from this role in a more standard setting as well as much more when his character was viewed through different eyes and a different perspective.
This work may be Macbeth but with a power and focus shift to Lady Macbeth, but all of the most loved elements are here too as supernatural forces, the three witches, prophesies and ghosts of the mind are all still here. Interestingly though, our three witches also get an update, and again this is in line with perceptions old and new. There is also much humour in these new witches and Liz Kettle as Carlin often steals many scenes on this production.
All of the other main characters are here too, and Jade Ogugua is as Lady Macduff always a fine counterbalance to Lady Macbeth in their scenes together.
Macbeth or Macbeth (an undoing), this one is well worth taking the time out to see, and even at a 3 hour performance time (including interval) this story pulls you completely into its web of political power and intrigue and the time seems to pass all too quickly.
Cast
Nicole Cooper Lady Macbeth
Adam Best Macbeth
James Robinson Banquo
Jade Ogugua Lady Macduff
Liz Kettle Carlin
Star Penders Missy
Taqi Nazeer Bloody Soldier / Lennox
Paul Tinto Macduff / Doctor / Courtier 1
Laurie Scott Ross / Murderer 1
Marc Mackinnon Duncan / Murderer 3 / Courtier
Review by Tom King © 2023
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com