ED FRINGE 2011: Macbeth – New Town Theatre

Director: Max Lewendel

Reviewer: Alice Longhurst

The Public Reviews Rating:

With this year’s Fringe featuring no less than eight versions of the Scottish play I approached this show with some trepidation. What an earth might they do to stand out? What clever setting, innovative special effects, or contemporary influences might they abuse in the name of art?

As it turned out my fears were unfounded. Director Max Lewendel has chosen accuracy over originality, which actually makes the production quite unusual in its own right, to create an almost perfectly accurate reproduction of the text, excepting a few omissions to meet the eighty minute running length.

Reductions are also made to the cast, and sadly this is where things unravel a little. With just seven actors frequent character doubling is required, and for those less familiar with the plot the lack of clear distinction between roles may well quickly become confusing. This aside, there are good performances, particularly from the powerful lead Joel Gorf and Sophie Brooke’s wild-eyed Lady Macbeth, who comes across as wonderfully hysterical, although perhaps a little lacking in malevolence. Zachary Holton, a great bear of a man, is perfectly cast as an amiable old Duncan. Overall the acting is strong, if a little wooden, and at any rate the stiffness is dispelled in the convincingly choreographed battle scenes.

Costumes channel the historical background to the tale, with medieval cloaks, great big spears and slightly comical oversized furry boots. Infernal glowing red cuts slashed into the upright blocks which form the backdrop combine with the dim lighting and bright full moon to create a darkly atmospheric frame for the bloody tale.

In all, this production is unusual at a Fringe full of crazy contemporary interpretations of the classics, and as a traditional telling it is sure to please many purists. For the more open minded, there’s nothing new or challenging here, but it is slick and well performed show.