Shakespearean geekout: Macbeth at Stratford

[adrienne_j]

On our things to do before the baby comes list, going to see Macbeth performed at Stratford is the last one. At this point, with only a month to go (maybe) before the little girl makes her entrance, the number of roadtrips I'm going to feel like embarking on will be... next to nill

Comments

[in_the_annex]

Macbeth is one of my favorite plays as well. It was one of the first plays that I studied in high school, and I immediately keyed into the language and themes of the story. I always felt that Macbeth is the best Elizabethan story to adapt during anxious times, especially regarding it's themes of amorality leading to irredeemable behaviour, and the hubris of 'groupthink' (to use a modern colloquialism). I have not seen a good contemporary adaption for the stage, but rely on Orson Welles' and Roman Polanski's film interpetations.

One Shakespeare production that I would love to see staged, is a fully realized Julius Ceasar. One with battling armies, an orchestra of Roman intruments, and a full sitting senate making lots of rude noise. Too much to ask?

[adrienne_j]

Polanski's version is quite disturbing, which always made me feel he completely 'got' the play, because it is a disturbing play. I know I've seen Welles' version as well, but it definitely didn't stick with me the way Polanski's did. And you're right, it is a good anxious times play, heck when it was written was the hight of all the attempts on Elizabeth's life and talk of rebellion, so I think the play does a wonderful job of expressing the fears of the time and all the political unrest.

I think it's too much to ask, but, one of the other plays being done this year at Stratford does just happen to be Julius Ceasar. If you check it out, definitely let me know how it is :)