Making a bloody mess out of Shakespeare's Macbeth

By Quentin Letts

PUBLISHED: 20:59 EST, 28 February 2013 | UPDATED: 04:21 EST, 1 March 2013


MACBETH (Trafalgar Studios)

Verdict: Gore blimey!

Rating: 2 Star Rating

Starring role: James McAvoy plays Macbeth in a new production at the Trafalgar Studios

Starring role: James McAvoy plays Macbeth in a new production at the Trafalgar Studios

At half-time in this Macbeth, a morose stagehand wanders on with a mop to swab the blood-covered stage.

Much the same thing happens at county cricket grounds when there has been rain and the outfield needs sponging.

The over-use of Kensington Gore says it all about this Jamie Lloyd production. Subtle it ain’t.

It all felt a bit studenty, but that may be because I went on Monday night, when the auditorium (admirably) is being given over to teenagers.

They kept laughing at the gushings of red stuff, just as they chortled when James McAvoy’s Macbeth was so overcome by revulsion at his misdeeds that he was sick in a lavatory. The lavatory bowl was parked at the side of the stage, visible throughout.

Mr McAvoy, like the rest of the show, is full-on from the start. Boy, it’s shouty. The witches utter their lines with gas masks over their faces. They sound like Darth Vader.

The look is post-industrial: broken window panes, metal lightshades, steel-tube chairs, that sort of thing.

Lloyd, reheating ancient cliches, goes in for a lot of that fizzing light thing that directors were so fond of a few years ago. They use it to convey suspense and menace. We also had metallic door banging in the distance. Vieux chapeau! This is a decidedly Scots Macbeth. Mr McAvoy does him with, I think, a Western Isles accent.

 

More...

His best moment comes with the ‘tomorrow, tomorrow’ speech, which (hooray) he takes slowly. The rest of it is a little rushed.

With everyone dressed like paintball contestants, we are given little notion of nobility.

Claire Foy’s Lady Macbeth is no more chilling than a cup of tepid tea, though there is an interesting idea about her having difficulty conceiving.

Jamie Ballard nearly overdoes things as Macduff, but at least he tries for some  emotion. The rest of the evening is dismayingly short on feeling.

 

Comments (15)

The comments below have not been moderated.

 View all

Well judging by the postings Quentin you must have gone to the wrong production of Macbeth,mind you they are mostly written by James groupies by the sound of them.

Click to rate     Rating   1

Report abuse

Why red arrow someone just for asking a question!?! OK, it wasn't an earth-shattering question, but still... you jumped-up twit (me, putting it politely)!!!

Click to rate     Rating   7

Report abuse

James is hot and his accent makes me weak at the knees!! - Hummingbird , London, United Kingdom, 01/3/2013 12:43............................Totally agree on both accounts! He is definitely my ideal man (after my hubby). There's just something about him, that for me (personally) nobody else has - just don't know what it is...

Click to rate     Rating   22

Report abuse

Why red arrow my comment for goodness sake, I only asked a question???

Click to rate     Rating   7

Report abuse

Macbeth (the character) most certainly does not have a Western Isles accent, it is solidly Glaswegian and all the better for it. For your information and enlightenment, the Gentlewoman does indeed have a sonorous and most beguiling and authentic Western Isle accent. Quite distinct from the Glasgow brogue. Linguistics apart, what a mealy-mouthed review of what I found to be the most authentic and dramatic Macbeth ever. Calling it studenty is a cheap jibe. And an inability to differentiate between the cast and the audience begs the question as to quite what he is doing reviews anyhow.

Click to rate     Rating   1

Report abuse

For those who have been lucky enough to see this, did James keep his beard that I thought he was growing for the role or is he clean shaven?

Click to rate     Rating   10

Report abuse

I sit through a reading of the phone book if James McAvoy was involved... :-)

Click to rate     Rating   63

Report abuse

I saw this production and thought James McAvoy made a wonderful Macbeth. I have to agree that Claire Foy's Lady Macbeth was a little lacking - her delivery was rushed and garbled and the costume did her no favours. Seemed more a little girl than a powerful noble woman. The moment McDuff finds out his famiy had been killed brought real tears to my eyes. I would definitely recommend getting tickets if I didn't know it has been sold out for weeks now. I'm sorry for those of you that didn't get one!

Click to rate     Rating   37

Report abuse

This so called reviewer doesn't give this production the appraisal it deserves! Jamie Lloyd's concept of Macbeth had me and the rest of the audience on the edge of our seats throughout with a standing ovation at the end and with a complete sell out of tickets, enough said!

Click to rate     Rating   29

Report abuse

James is hot and his accent makes me weak at the knees!!

Click to rate     Rating   48

Report abuse

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.