Sunday, May 14, 2023

Theatre Review: Macbeth

 The Play: Macbeth

The Company: Bell Shakespeare

The Theatre Space: The Fairfax Studio, The Arts Centre

Until: Season Closed (this afternoon's matinee was the last performance)

Stars: 4

This has to be the seventh or eighth performance of the Scottish Play I've seen in my lifetime. 

There was the one done at the Pop Up Globe and I saw their version in Sydney. That was fun, but Shakespeare outside, in the rain, is always fun. 

There was the one in the Botanic Gardens a couple of years ago. It was lighter than most Macbeths, but that's because Shakespeare in the park isn't meant to be that heavy. 

Of course, there was the Melbourne Theatre Company version done in 2017, where it was all very military and we got to see Jai Courtney parade around in his undies. 

And I remember a particularly bad Macbeth done by the Royal Shakespeare Company with Roger Allam in the lead role. It was stark and boring and just not good at all. 

Alice is one of my Shakespeare buddies and we both like what the Bell Shakespeare company does with its material. They've done some crackers over the years. Their Henry V done in school rooms during the Blitz was phenomenal. The other great thing about Bell Shakespeare is they always include actors of every creed and colour in their casts. They've been very inclusive in their casting for years. It's great. 

And this Macbeth was no different. 


And hey, anybody who's been through Year 12 English knows the story of Macbeth, the Thane who was given a prophesy and he goes out of his way to make sure it comes to pass, leaving a swathe of bodies in his wake. There are some witches, everybody goes a bit batty and Macbeth ends up dead after the forest goes for a walk and we learn that Mac Duff was the product of a caesarean. 

As Macbeths go, this one was excellent. Dark, moody, intense and surprisingly funny in places. 

The open stage at the Fairfax Studio, with dark green drapes and some chairs that wouldn't look out of place at your Nan's were the only set. The costumes came out of the twenties, giving the production an extra edge. Something the Bell do well is footwear. I spent a lot of the time gawping at everybody's shoes. 

What makes any Bell Production special is their knowledge of the material, and how they put it to use. Hazem Shammas was great as an increasingly unhinged Macbeth (so much so the company fought back at a review in The Age which moaned about the actor's perceived overacting (and to be honest, The Ages theatre reviews have gone to shit of late.)). I loved how unhinged both he and Lady Macbeth (Jessica Tovey) went down the metaphorical rabbit holes and then get their comeuppance. 

The troupe work as a team. This was slick, wonderfully choreographed, and seamless. 

And for your Shakespeare purists, of which I can be counted, the omissions were done well - although I was a bit peeved that the Porter didn't get more time. 

My only criticism is that I thought this was a little under lit. But that's it. 

This was edgy, fast-paced and well done, even if the Bell do Shakespeare with Australian accents. After living here for over 20 years, I'm finally getting over that one. 

As this closed this afternoon after a three state run, I'm really glad I got to see this. Bring on Romeo and Juliet later in the year. 

Today's song: 

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