My thoughts on MACBETH (now with spoilers!)

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 7:42pm

Yes, it's three hours even. Yes, Patrick Stewart is that good, but Kate Fleetwood is even better. Unfortunately, I'm ambivalent about the production.

Two surprises - to see that Henry Hodges understudies the children; to see that the masterful Byron Jennings (who should just move into the Lyceum) was playing Duncan and the Doctor.

It's certainly the best Macbeth NY has seen in the past 20 years - especially compared to Frasier's version and the Liev production in Central Park.

It's brilliantly designed (Howard Harrison will probably win a Tony for lighting) by Anthony Ward, and Adam Cork is a shoo-in Tony winner for the overwhelming sound design. Lorna Heavey's projections were incredible.

Rupert Goold's staging is interesting, but a bit too busy. I had a very hard time keeping tabs on everyone. Casting 30-something Kate Fleetwood opposite Patrick Stewart was an inspired work of genius. It creates a Michael Douglas/Catherine Zeta-Jones aspect that's never been attempted before. It's very sexy. And they're both incredible. Especially her.

Highlight of the show was the double banquet scene - thought it worked VERY well.

Rest of the cast is fine. Loved the rapping Weird Sisters. But there was just this down moment mid-way through the second act where I just zoned out.

There were, like, 6 curtain calls - you could tell they had never bowed that much, and the looks of sheer jubilation on Stewart and Fleetwood's faces were worth the price of admission.

By the way - it was on TKTS for today's performance. And yes, he did sign autographs.

If you've got questions, I'll answer 'em.
Updated On: 3/30/08 at 07:42 PM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 7:47pm

I was there last night, and I thought Kate Fleetwood was marvelous. Patrick Stewart did not impress me, though. It just was a run of the mill performance to me.

The projections were fascinating, and Byron Jennings was wonderful, as usual.

I did find several dead moments throughout the show, and did feel it became too busy at times.

The reasons to see this production are for the concept and for Kate Fleetwood's electric performance.

There were only two curtain calls last night, and Patrick Stewart didn't even get entrance applause.

I did like how Kate Fleetwood had the final bow. I thought she deserved it.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 7:51pm

Yeah, when I saw the dress he didn't even get entrance applause.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 7:55pm

He didn't today, either. I thought it was very interesting - I was expecting at least a smattering of applause. But it's staged in a way where applause would interrupt the scene, so, in the end, I'm glad there wasn't any.

[Weez]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 7:58pm

I agree with much of what Yankeefan said. Although I reckon the reason I zoned out during act two is for the same reason I zone out of act two of ANY production of this play; it just wasn't written very interestingly. It gets dull after Lady M pops off.

I've seen Patrick Stewart doing three different Shakespeare plays now, and I'll be seeing 'Hamlet' in November, and I just don't really click with him. Does that make me a bad Shakespeare fan?

[sanda]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:01pm

thanks for the review.

where did you sit? My seat is front row at balcony, the cheapest that I can afford.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:03pm

Weez, I just didn't think he was very engaging. Nothing really made his performance particularly defining.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:04pm

Yankeefan- Thanks so much. I really dont do Shakespeare at all, but I read Macbeth in High School and I loved it. Hopefully I can catch this production! I might just get out of my hiatus next week... lol! I just bought tixs to A CATERED AFFAIR, CRY-BABY & GLORY DAYS... uh!! that did not last long, huh?

J*

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:04pm

I had a seat for the front row of the balcony - A101, the aisle. What they didn't mention was that there's a huge light blocking part of the view, along with the fact that the light rack makes you lean forward.

So I spoke to the house manager before the show began who kindly moved me to the rear orchestra.

You know, I really wish they'd start warning ticket buyers about potential obstructions.


ETA - I read Macbeth in high school, as well (who didn't!?). It's my favorite Shakespeare, for the fact that it's the most accessable.
Updated On: 3/30/08 at 08:04 PM

[sanda]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:08pm

Oh, no. that sucks. My seat is exactly the same as yours.

[Weez]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:15pm

I read 'Macbeth' in high school too. It's one of the ones where studying it didn't actually put you off it (unlike Thomas Hardy, who I can NEVER read again XP), but it does lose speed so badly toward the end. The most engaging Shakespeare I've encountered thus far is 'Much Ado About Nothing', although my favourite is 'Henry V'. :3

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:17pm

I'm not much of a Shakespeare nut, especially compared to a number of my friends, who really convinced me to see this production. Glad I did. I can add it to the list of Shakespeare's I've seen - maybe I'll get to all 38 one day. But I would have liked it much more if it were free and in Central Park.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:26pm

How's the stage door scene? Is it a mess? I hate when I see people with portfolios of pictures asking actors to sign it for them and sell it on eBay. Were there tons of them there for Patrick Stewart?

J*
Updated On: 3/30/08 at 08:26 PM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:29pm

I'm seeing this Wednesday evening and I'm looking forward to it!

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:31pm

Would someone care to explain the concept for this production?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:33pm

Jay - there were a handful of people. All but 2 had seen the show. One of them had the cast sign a small bowling pin. It was very demure. Nobody in the crowd cheered - they greeted Stewart with polite applause. He took the time to talk to everyone - I heard him mention NO PICTURES - and even inscribed a Playbill to a 6-9 year old kid, with whom he had a very nice, long discussion.

IdinaBellFoster - it's set in the 1940s in Stalinist Russia. The institutional unit set doubles as a war hospital and the Macbeth's kitchen, as well as assorted other locales, presented through projections. There are a number of interesting moments this provokes. The staginings of the banquet are dazzling, and the moment where Macbeth makes a turkey sandwich while ordering the hit on Banquo is chilling.
Updated On: 3/30/08 at 08:33 PM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:37pm

Oh god...that bowling pin guy. I saw him after the Encores Applause (and I heard he was at Juno last night). That guy is insane.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:40pm

There were only four people at the stage door on Saturday night.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:43pm

Merchandise is clever - a shirt that reads MACBETH, BROADWAY 2008 on the front and "with the pin ****of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes" on the back; 2 baseball caps - one that reads MACBETH, BROADWAY 2008 and the other that reads THE SCOTTISH PLAY, BROADWAY 2008. The T's are daggers.

And of course, there is a mug.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:43pm

So, the 'no pictures' thing, is that for the entire run? I'd *love* to have my picture taken with him, or even OF him while I'm waiting to meet him. Wishtful thinking? Perhaps.

This bowling pin fellow. What makes him so 'insane'?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:46pm

...he has people autograph bowling pins.

RE: no photos - he said that he didn't feel like posing with people today, but then politely mentioned it again when I snapped a photo while he was signing.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:50pm

Thanks Yankeefan, sounds like a fantastic concept. Really wish I could see this.

[Weez]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:52pm

... you put a spoiler warning in the heading? That's hilarious. Either that or I've imbibed too much caffeine this evening.

From what I've heard, Stewart won't have anything to do with Star Trek merchandise, not even if it's a small boy waiting in the rain for three hours. But I imagine that pretty much everyone here would be appreciating him in for his theatre rather than his TV. We're nerdy, but not necessarily in that way. XD

Updated On: 3/30/08 at 08:52 PM

[NYCtheater]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:58pm

Re: Henry Hodges - he is actually playing the part of Fleanace and Macduff's son. There are two other boys in the show - one plays Fleanance, the other plays Macduff, so Henry performs either part depending on the schedule.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 3/30/08 at 8:58pm

There are some actors that politely ask people not to take photos with them bec. if they do it for one...they have to do it for all..which is understandable! meaning- it will take them all day to pose with everyone..I know for a fact...Claire Danes, Megan Mullaly (but now..she is doing it?) and Allison Pill ( bec. she does not want to be captured in a photo, for some granola reason? - I heard her say that to one stage doorers) DO NOT want their photos taken with a stage doorers.

When I hear it... I usually dont bother them..aside from embarrasing myself and my ego! Though based on my experience the ensemble are the ones that are always game.. uh! they love photos... and IF I am a broadway actor.. hell yeah! I will POST with anyone...I love fans! I will even go-out during matinees ..just to be photographed!

(of course.. I am just trying to be funny!)

J*



Updated On: 3/30/08 at 08:58 PM