Patty & Emily & The Scottish Play (Again)

No, you’re not reading a post from six months ago, when we saw Alan Cumming’s one (three) man production of Macbeth. This is a NEW post about Lincoln Center’s current production of Macbeth, featuring a full cast and starring Ethan Hawke and Anne-Marie Duff!

Anne-Marie_Ethan

This production had an industrial feel to the costumes and staging, using a lot of metals and blacks. Emily really wanted Brian d’Arcy James’s boots, so if someone could give us the info on where they came from that would be great. There was also a cinematic feel to the staging and music, with dramatic (and loud) pre-recorded scene transitions. While the fights were a little lackluster, the lighting was amazing.

Witches

The supporting cast was great. They made a choice by casting men as the witches, though why was never really made clear. The witches also took the places of ensemble members (at times quite cleverly), so as to magnify their manipulation of Macbeth’s tale. Other than these exceptions, it’s a fairly straightforward production of one of Shakespeare’s most well known plays.

Also, if you’ve ever wanted to know what BDJ looks like with a bunch of knives stuck in his head, now is your chance!

For discounted tickets, use code MACBLOG or visit here.
For more info on Lincoln Center, check out their:
Website: http://www.lct.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LincolnCenterTheater
Twitter: @LCTheater

Macbeth at Lincoln Center

For a show whose name can’t be spoken within the walls of a theatre, Macbeth seems to be on everyone’s tongue these days. Lincoln Center is mounting a production starring Ethan Hawke, with Jack O’Brien as director. We’ll be seeing it soon, but here’s what Lincoln Center has to say about it:

In a production drenched in black, and glinting with blood red and dazzling white, MACBETH reveals itself to be Shakespeare’s most powerful and darkest nightmare; a terrifying parable for our own time in which we, too, are urged to take more and more chances, whatever the consequences. Shakespeare has the answer: MACBETH is the consequence. We must beware!

And a trailer:

Macbeth will be opening tomorrow, November 21st, and it just so happens we have a discount code we can share with you! It’s only good through tomorrow, so get those tickets fast! Use code MACBLOG89 on www.BroadwayOffers.com or visit this link.

For more info on Lincoln Center, check out their:
Website: http://www.lct.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LincolnCenterTheater
Twitter: @LCTheater

Patty & Emily & The Scottish Play

The night didn’t start out great when Patty forgot and uttered the name of the play we were about to see within the walls of the Barrymore Theatre, though it was clearly posted not to. Thankfully, no horrors befell us or this production of Macbeth.

Being Shakespeare, it’s always good to have an understanding of the show before you see it. Emily was familiar with it, as she played Hecate in 6th Grade(!) AND a witch in high school. Patty didn’t really know the play, except for the vague references you need to get by in conversation. Luckily, the Playbill came with a handy synopsis!

Alan Cumming’s performance was absolutely fantastic. His transitions from character to character were not only clear, but completely transformative. Not technically a one man show, Alan Cumming plays a patient in an insane asylum watched over by two caregivers. No clear motivation is given for why this man is stuck in his own production of Macbeth, though his past is hinted at in props and staging. This concept is actually so intriguing to us, we were a little more interested in learning his story and would love to see that play.

Overall, however, this production is intriguing, powerful, and worth the trip to the Barrymore. And Emily has an idea for what they can do with the set once the show is over: her dream production of Cats set in an insane asylum.

Macbeth plays at the Barrymore Theatre through July 14th. Tickets: www.macbethonbroadway.com