MACBETH. To 16 August.
London.
MACBETH
by William Shakespeare.
Open Air Theatre Regent’s Park In rep to 16 August 2007.
Mon-Sat 8pm Mat 28, 30 June, 11 August 2.30pm.
TICKETS: 08700 601811.
www.openairtheatre.org
Review: Timothy Ramsden 19 June.
The (pouring) down side of open air theatre.
“When shall we three meet again,
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?”
Well, two out of three’s not bad, and if the thunder was distant the rain was already evident as the Open Air Theatre’s production began, causing a ripple of laughter. (Incidentally, why do the Weird Sisters say, “thunder, lightning, or in rain? Doesn’t a downpour normally accompany the others?).
A quick summons to take shelter made this look to be a very short performance: Macbeth without the Thane. But things alleviated, allowing eventual progress, though by the time Banquo entered to his death with “It will be rain tonight” all was wet enough to bring on another laugh.
One damp banquet later the interval was reached and that was that. The theatre (aptly enough sponsored by the Met Office) operates a policy of exchanging tickets for any future performance, but for the night, that was it.
At this point it seemed a Macbeth well-fitted to this theatre. Plenty of people delight in the open-air, slightly festive atmosphere of culture without walls, who would never lock themselves in a theatre building for nearly 3 hours. With many new to the play, what’s needed is clarity of story and character. And that’s what Edward Kemp’s production was giving.
Antony Byrne’s Macbeth hardens soon after he hears the Weird Sisters’ prophecies (they look like a make-up disaster emerging from a Camden night-club at 5am on a rainy Sunday morning). Macbeth the emerging tyrant is seen as he presses his face up-close to a Lord, or in the hostility under his apparently casual questions about Banquo’s ride; “Goes Fleance with you?” has never seemed more chilling.
Banquo doesn’t escape the impact of those prophecies. As Macbeth stands, apparently unconscious, Mark Meadows momentarily takes the crown off his head, trying kingship out for size. Sarah Woodward’s Lady Macbeth remains resolute, concerned only at her husband’s excluding her from his presence and his outbursts at the banquet.
Jon Bausor’s set of rusted containers hardly suggests a land ruled by David Peart’s unusually jovial Duncan. But this proved a clear, thoughtful Macbeth - Part I.
Duncan/Doctor: David Peart.
Malcolm: Thomas Padden.
Donalbain/Caithness: Christian Edwards.
Macbeth: Antony Byrne.
Lady Macbeth: Sarah Woodward.
Banquo: Mark Meadows.
Fleance: Chris Edgerley.
Macduff: Peter Duncan.
Lady Macduff: Hattie Ladbury.
Young Macduff: Oliver Coopersmith/Arthur Duncan.
Lennox: Giles Taylor.
Ross: Sam Alexander.
Angus: Richard Glaves.
Sergeant/Murderer: Tobias Beer.
Porter: Chris Emmett.
Gentlewoman: Gemma Sutton.
Gentleman: Martin McCarthy.
Murderer: David McGranaghan.
Messenger: Alan Bradshaw.
Old Man/Siward: Steve Watts.
Young Siward: Joseph Pitcher.
Weird Sisters: Emma Clayton, OIlivia Darnley, Anna Lowe.
Director: Edward Kemp.
Designer: Jon Bausor.
Lighting: Jason Taylor.
Sound: Gregory Clarke.
Composer: Gary Yershon.
Movement: Ayse Tashkiran.
Voice coach: Mel Churcher.
Fight director: Terry King.
Assistant director: Sarah Norman.
2007-06-26 00:01:43