Macbeth by William Shakespeare Company X
Athenaeum
II, March 12 to 23, 2003
Reviewer: Kate
Herbert
The Scottish Play,
as Shakespeare's Macbeth is known, is not an easy play to stage. There are battle scenes, murders by the
cartload and a forest that walks. Company X, under the
direction of Simon Piening, takes
on the play with gusto and some success.
One asset of this
production is that Piening edits it to two hours and keeps it moving swiftly. The play, if you do not
know it, tells of Macbeth (Trent Baker ) who desires the crown. Compelled by
his wife (Geraldine Quinn) he kills all and sundry to get and keep it.
Baker has some strength
as Macbeth. He captures the usurper's thirst for power, his weakness and
obsession. This is a role made
famous by the best actors in the world and comparison is inevitable. Macbeth's
journey from loyal subject to murdering traitor requires great skill to execute
credibly under out contemporary gaze.
Similarly with Lady
Macbeth, Quinn's performance might
suffer under scrutiny. She finds passion and the woman's harsh ambition but the
character lacks layers. Tom Coulson as
Macduff , has a strong vocal quality and finds genuine passion in Macduff's
grief and passion for revenge.
The stage is simply
designed but the noisy wooden floor is distracting at times. Tim Blundell's lighting design is evocative and murky.
Sound design by Chris Milne is
effective at times.
There are some problems with double casting women as soldiers, boys, murderers and witches. The male doubled roles need some clearer differentiation. Some of the fight scenes are poorly choreographed and guns do not work in this context particularly when they put aside for a fist fight.
Playing witches believably
in the 21st century is difficult. The trio (Quinn, Janine Wilson, Georgina Durham ) has some impact but their scenes lack real potency and spookiness.
This company is
worth watching. It is newly formed and ambitious - like Macbeth.
By Kate Herbert
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