Kenneth Branagh’s New York Theater debut has been a long
time coming. Anticipation and
expectations can often drown a good performance. But instead of downplaying expectations,
Macbeth, now at the Park Avenue Armory, ramps them up wildly.
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There is an entire pre-presentation experience designed to overwhelm the viewer, to set your
emotional clock to back to the age of chivalry and make you ready to inhabit
the world of Macbeth. (For a spoiler full description, read at the end of the revue.) And the story opens with a wild battle, played out with steel
on steel, shouts, blood and combat on this narrow field, now drenched in rain.
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And then the show starts.
It’s a lot of live up to.
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For the most part, Macbeth lives up to it well. Branagh’s Macbeth, however, will not be to
everyone’s taste. This Thane is valiant
in battle and excels in scheming, but is less brave hearted when it comes to
follow through. Macbeth second guesses
himself, questions his own plans and stalls nearly too long to carry them
out. In this he is lucky, and the rest
of Scotland unlucky, that he has a partner in Lady Macbeth, a fantastic Alex
Kingston. The lady supports his plans,
executes upon them and quite often supplies the backbone Macbeth lacks.
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This is the trouble with the play; the hero must be cajoled
into action, until the death of Banquo (played robustly by Jimmy Yuill). This is a turning point for Macbeth. He is haunted by the death of his old friend,
which he had arraigned. After nearly
succumbing to visions of Banquo’s ghost at a dinner, Macbeth recovers. And, in that recovery where his conscious is
defeated, he transforms into a fearsome and fearless ruler.
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| Kenneth Branagh and Alex Kingston as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth |
The company is made up of experience performers, many of who
have had extensive Shakespearian backgrounds.
They perform flawlessly, never falling out of the period or the speech
and delivering both the saddest of lines and the bawdiest of jokes effortlessly. A particular stand-out is Richard Coyle who commands attention as Macduff.
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Kenneth Branagh’s performance is excellent. He is well matched by Alex Kingston and
together they embody the trajectory of greed and corruption. Their spell is so great, that you often root
for these anti-heros.
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The technical team, lead by Set and Costume Designer
Christopher Oram, has made the experience magical and immersive without
overpowering the piece. Music is by
Patrick Doyle, who’s first musical score was the haunting Henry V. He works wonders here as well.
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Branagh and co-director Rob Ashford have delivered Macbeth
as a Spectacle and a piece with real emotion.
It moves quickly, cut to two hours, without an intermission.
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Macbeth
Playwright: William Shakespeare
Directors: Rob Ashford and Kenneth Branagh
Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Alex Kingston, Jimmy Yuill, Richard Coyle, Scarlett Strallen, Tom Godwin
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Spoiler of Pre-Show, Click More to view.
