This production should have been, and had potential to be, much better than it turned out. 'Macbeth' is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays and one of his most accessible, evidenced by it being one of the few plays of his taught and studied in schools. Royal Shakespeare Company have done so many great productions in recent years and are a great company. The cast is a truly talented one and this review is coming from someone who has no problem with non-traditional productions, as long as they are in good taste.
Something that this production of 'Macbeth' failed to do. It manages to be even more less tasteful than the Rory Kinnear National Theatre production, which was sad for me as someone who admires Kinnear and the National Theatre live simulcasts that are always seen without fail. Have liked Christopher Eccleston in other things, including his scene-stealing work in 'The A Word' (one of not many shows in recent years to resonate with me). Likewise with Niamh Cusack ( do prefer Sinead out of the Cusack sisters though, think highly of them all but Sinead is special), ever since seeing her as Beatrix Potter in the sublime 'The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends'. This production of 'Macbeth' had a lot of potential, but doesn't live up to it at all.
Admittedly though it does have moments. Some of the supporting cast are good, Edward Bennett is a very poignant Macduff and Raphael Sowole's Banquo is suitably noble and loyal. Faring best is Michael Hodgson, here omnispresent as not just as the Porter but in multiiple roles and absolutely loved the ambiguity. The only staging touch pretty much that works.
It is a pretty decent looking production, not as ugly thankfully as the Kinnear production. Very horror-based but not schlocky. The music has some atmosphere.
Both Eccleston and Cusack disappoint on the other hand. Eccleston does give a robustness to his interpretation in the title role, but it is an interpretation that badly lacks nuance and he tends to rush through his lines (not like Eccleston usually). Cusack has some bloodthirsty moments but for my tastes she is too neurotic to the point of unstability as Lady Macbeth. Even for Lady Macbeth's state of mind at this point of the play, the staging of the sleepwalking scene goes well overboard on the unbalance (have never seen a Lady Macbeth this deranged at this point). Their chemistry doesn't convince, too distant and too aggresive.
Yes subtlety is not a strong suit at all in this production of 'Macbeth', don't think Polly Findlay even knew that this word exists. Although there is a spookiness in the play, there is too much of a horror aspect and it is done in a way in this aspect as too gimmicky and cheap as well as over-reliant. The staging really cheapens and badly undoes the production. Some good ideas, but all of them are half-baked and everything felt incredibly muddled. Couldn't even tell what the time period was or what country or century it was meant to be. The witches were not spooky enough and actually came over as unintentionally silly. The rest of the supporting cast don't stand out and some are quite odd, especially the murderers.
Concluding, weak. 3/10.
