Critical Review of Macbeth

Shakespeare’s play Macbeth has been staged and filmed many times since it was written and its popularity has spawned many different versions and interpretations.  It is a story of one couple’s relationship and their gradual descent into madness, chaos and violence. Macbeth, a nobleman, is told by three witches that he is destined to be king.  He and his wife take matters into their own hands and decide to murder the current king, Duncan.  However, the Macbeths discover that the violence will not end once they are on the throne.  Macbeth is both overconfident and paranoid as he commits more murders thinking it will bring him stability.  In the end, Macbeth is overthrown by the people of Scotland, and the rightful heir takes the throne.  Macbeth is brilliantly produced by the Folger Shakespeare Library with directors Aaron Posner and Teller.  Their version accurately conveys the dark chaos, violence and emotional drama of Macbeth with excellent acting and visual effects.  The visual effects also make this production interesting and exciting to watch even for viewers who have never studied Shakespeare.  
Although the Posner and Teller version is well worth watching it does have some faults.  A few special effects were unnecessary. For example, immediately after Macbeth’s and Banquo’s first encounter with the witches, Banquo stabs one of the witches as they leave and seems to succeed in killing her.  The witches are supposed to be magical and mysterious, not tangible and conquerable.  Banquo stabbing a witch detracts from the witches’ mysterious power.  Later, Lady Macbeth has actual blood on her hands when she is supposed to be hallucinating, undermining the impression that Lady Macbeth is psychologically damaged.  The witches pour blood on top of Macbeth at the end, in an unnecessary display of gore. Though these special effects detract somewhat from the play, overall the special effects enhance the dark, violent atmosphere.
Generally, the acting is one of the strengths of this production.  The only actor who disappoints is Paul Morella as Macbeth’s friend Banquo.  Banquo is supposed to be the wise, thoughtful opposite of Macbeth.  However, in this version Banquo is as loud, angry and forceful as Macbeth, diminishing the important contrast between him and Macbeth.  Fortunately, Morella does make it obvious Banquo disapproves of Macbeth’s murderous actions.  In addition, Ian Peakes and Kate Norris, as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, both portrayed their characters’ emotions well and the camera clearly showed their facial expressions.  The actors and the camera together show the intense emotional and psychological elements of Macbeth that are so much a part of the dark violent mood.

One of the most notable strengths of the play is the staging.  The actors use the full stage including an upper level, staircase and even act out in the audience.  This movement makes the play more dramatic and engaging.  The witches leer down at the public from their raised position as Macbeth stares up at them.  The soldiers at Birnam wood run through the audience and the murderers exit right up the main aisle of the audience.  Teller and Posner combine scenes to make them more interesting and to show what is happening at the same time.  Banquo’s murder was played out right behind the throne where Lady Macbeth and Macbeth sat together.  These combinations and imaginative staging show connections in the story and make it more entertaining to watch.

The music and special effects added to the overall feeling of suspense, foreboding and violence.  John Killkenny was a master of the gongs, drums and sinister tinkling noises.  Banquo’s ghost, the revolving dagger, the apparitions and the witches were all believable and frightening.  
Lastly, both the end and the beginning of this version of Macbeth highlight the dark violent chaos.  The play begins with the introducer getting stabbed and the theater going dark before the first actors appear.  At the end nearly everyone is covered in blood and holding battle swords.

The Teller and Posner production of Macbeth had its faults but overall the excellent acting, camera shots, inventive staging, special effects and background music conveyed the dark mood of the play and drew in the audience.  This excellent production of Macbeth is worth watching especially for people who have not studied Shakespeare extensively.  Teller and Posner manage to engage the audience while staying true to the original, showing how captivating Shakespeare was and why his work has endured for so long.