Macbeth is Shakespeare’s shortest and darkest tragedy. At Oxford Playhouse yesterday evening, Out of Chaos theatre company kept it short (edited down to just one hour and 20 mins) and dark – when the stage wasn’t blood-red, it was pitch-black.
There was no scenery, no costume changes, no interval and no props apart from those ominous knives. And the cast: just two actors. Two actors to convincingly convey the fearful Macbeth, his scheming wife, the prophetic witches, the trusting King Duncan, the loyal Banquo and the heroic Macduff, by constantly switching between roles using different accents, facial expressions and stage positions.
Fortunately, the combined efforts of the cast (Hannah Barrie and Paul O’Mahony) and the creative team, headed by director Mike Tweddle, amounted to a production that was both memorable and mesmerising.
‘a production that was both memorable and mesmerising’
The way that Barrie switched from playing Banquo’s understandably peeved ghost to an exasperated Lady Macbeth every few seconds was truly gripping. And in this same scene, the way the audience was included by being given the part of dinner guests was excitingly original.
We continued to feel in the middle of the action as the two actors surprised us by coming and going through doors at the sides of the auditorium. Although sadly the Porter didn’t put in an appearance, Seyton (Macbeth’s servant) does and provides some welcome comic relief through some audience interaction. Keep your bags closed is all we can say!
Purists might disagree, but I was so glad that the actors were amplified, free to utilise the full range of their voices against a wonderfully eery soundscape of electronic drones, scrapes and howls. And we could hear every word – a first for me at a Shakespeare play!
As if that wasn’t enough, the performance was sur-titled, so we could appreciate and savour all the Bard’s lines.
Congratulations to Out of Chaos because this production is not only admirably accessible but sparkles with originality and invention.
EDWARD BLISS
Macbeth is at Oxford Playhouse until tonight. Book here: https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/macbeth
