MACBETH reviews...

[iluvtheatertrash]

MACBETH reviews...#1

Posted: 4/21/13 at 6:51pm

Looks like we needed one of these! I'm rooting for Alan Cumming. Saw it last night and was blown away. A tour-de-force and a perfomance I'll never forget.

"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman

[dramamama611]

MACBETH reviews...#2

Posted: 4/21/13 at 6:53pm

I have a few friends that have seen this and they have had nothing but amazing praise. Hoping the critics see it the same way.

Well, that, and I hope the stars align and I'll get to see it for myself!

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

[showchoirguy]

MACBETH reviews...#2

Posted: 4/21/13 at 6:54pm

Oops! You beat me to it!

[iluvtheatertrash]

MACBETH reviews...#3

Posted: 4/21/13 at 6:55pm

I hope you do too, dramamama. It is remarkable.

Oops, showchoir! Sorry!

"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman

[showchoirguy]

MACBETH reviews...#4

Posted: 4/21/13 at 7:08pm

Huffington Post is POSITIVE

[dramamama611]

MACBETH reviews...#5

Posted: 4/21/13 at 7:15pm

Closer to being a rave rather than just positive. IMHO. The title alone calls it STUNNING.

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

[showchoirguy]

MACBETH reviews...#6

Posted: 4/21/13 at 7:18pm

Good call, dramamama!

[showchoirguy]

MACBETH reviews...#7

Posted: 4/21/13 at 7:22pm

AM New York- 2 stars

[NewYorkTheater]

MACBETH reviews...#8

Posted: 4/21/13 at 8:14pm

When bloody, shirtless Alan Cumming recites the “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow” soliloquy on the stage of the Ethel Barrymore, I was floored: He would be great in “Macbeth” I thought. But of course, that was what this was supposed to be ...
Macbeth Review: Alan Cumming in a One-Maniac Broadway Show

[Jim Colyer]

MACBETH reviews...#9

Posted: 4/21/13 at 8:52pm

Roman Polanski's 1971 Macbeth movie is worth the effort.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067372/

[iluvtheatertrash]

MACBETH reviews...#10

Posted: 4/21/13 at 9:04pm

The AMNY review is absurd. The physicality of every single character is so different from the last, that it's impossible NOT to follow who each one is.

"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman

[iluvtheatertrash]

MACBETH reviews...#11

Posted: 4/21/13 at 9:14pm

I don't understand the gripes with his accent. I was in the very last row of the orchestra and heard every single syllable crisp and sharp.

No, I'm not a shill. Just really believe this was very special.

"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman

[jnb9872]

MACBETH reviews...#12

Posted: 4/21/13 at 9:45pm

If I recall correctly, he's playing 16 characters. I've seen Macbeth a number of times and, granted its not my favorite Shakespeare by far, I can barely remember the names of 16 characters once you get past the leads...

I'm glad you thought it was crystal clear. Don't say it's "impossible," because your claim becomes very easily falsifiable. .

Words don't deserve that kind of malarkey. They're innocent, neutral, precise, standing for this, describing that, meaning the other, so if you look after them you can build bridges across incomprehension and chaos. But when they get their corners knocked off, they're no good anymore…I don't think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.

[RippedMan]

MACBETH reviews...#13

Posted: 4/21/13 at 10:04pm

I'm sure it's confusing, but even if you see a Shakespeare in the Park production, I think you'd probably still be a little confused. I know I always am. Shakespeare just is kind of confusing.

[PalJoey]

MACBETH reviews...#14

Posted: 4/21/13 at 10:15pm

I saw it at Lincoln Center. I also say it was crystal clear.

The script has been trimmed. (Expertly, I might add.)

No reasonably intelligent person will have any problem whatsoever understanding and appreciating. Loving it, as a matter of fact.

I would not, however, recommend it for persons of less-than-reasonable intelligence.

[Bettyboy72]

MACBETH reviews...#15

Posted: 4/21/13 at 10:34pm

In reading the reviews, it seems like many are calling out Cumming on what appears to them as him being inauthentic. That this show feels like a vanity piece and adds little to Macbeth.

"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal "I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello

[PlayItAgain]

MACBETH reviews...#16

Posted: 4/21/13 at 10:38pm

lets be honest, if you dont have a familiarity with macbeth before going into this production, your going to be alittle lost.

[oasisjeff]

MACBETH reviews...#17

Posted: 4/21/13 at 11:02pm

Hmm, so this has been changed since the Lincoln Center version I saw this summer?

Required double dipping?!

Now t/d/b/a haterobics on here.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

MACBETH reviews...#18

Posted: 4/21/13 at 11:07pm

The NY Times is mixed: http://theater.nytimes.com/2013/04/22/theater/reviews/macbeth-with-alan-cumming-at-the-barrymore-theater.html?ref=arts&_r=0&pagewanted=1 Updated On: 4/21/13 at 11:07 PM

[Ed_Mottershead]

MACBETH reviews...#19

Posted: 4/21/13 at 11:11pm

I'm inclined to agree with Isherwood on this one. Although Cumming pulls the trick of differentiating between the roles, no mean feat in itself, he doesn't really inhabit them individually. Maybe because Patrick Stewart's performance still resonates so vividly with me, I was continually measuring the two performances of the title character with each other and, sadly, Cumming came off light years behind Stewart. Just my thought.

BroadwayEd

[PlayItAgain]

MACBETH reviews...#20

Posted: 4/21/13 at 11:12pm

man Davenport just can not catch a break, this on paper should have been a sure fire hit.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

MACBETH reviews...#21

Posted: 4/21/13 at 11:41pm

NY Post is mixed with two out of four stars:
http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/when_king_crowns_himself_XjHrKXwNO7F3vEcVYWnA9O?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Theater

Variety is positive: http://variety.com/2013/legit/reviews/legit-review-macbeth-1200400767/

EW is positive with a B+: http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20364394_20693398,00.html

NY Mag is mixed: http://www.vulture.com/2013/04/theater-review-alan-cumming-as-macbeth.html

NY Daily News is mixed with three out of five stars: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/macbeth-alan-cumming-theater-review-article-1.1322277

NJ Newsroom is mixed: http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/movies/macbeth-broadway-review-alan-cumming-gets-crazy-about-shakepeare

AP is positive: http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/review-alan-cummings-1-man-macbeth-stunningly-redefines-the-concept-of-tour-de-force/2013/04/21/8706e678-aacf-11e2-9493-2ff3bf26c4b4_story.html

Bloomberg is mixed to negative with two out of five stars: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-04-21/alan-cumming-s-nutty-macbeth-looks-for-tonys-review

USA Today is mixed with two and a half out of four stars: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2013/04/21/broadway-review-macbeth/2095981/

Newdsay is positive: http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/theater/macbeth-review-one-man-cumming-triumph-1.5106891

Time Out NY is mixed with three out of five stars: http://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/macbeth-17 Updated On: 4/22/13 at 11:41 PM

[bjh2114]

MACBETH reviews...#22

Posted: 4/21/13 at 11:54pm

Wow! I haven't seen this yet, but I am shocked at the reviews based on everything I've heard. Now I'm super intrigued to see this Tuesday. I thought Cumming was going to become the favorite for the Tony after tonight, but maybe Letts still has a better chance than I thought!

[PlayItAgain]

MACBETH reviews...#23

Posted: 4/21/13 at 11:57pm

I thought cumming was giving a great performance when I saw this last summer, but man does it seem to be backfiring on him as some kind of ego trip self obsessed vanity piece.

[massofmen]

MACBETH reviews...#24

Posted: 4/22/13 at 8:07am

umm agenda much? a lot of what you say is mixed is pretty negative. Of course you have to say what Alan is doing is difficult and hard, and demanding, but most of the reviews you said were mixed say that he doesn't really know what he is doing. Is pretty damning.