Macbeth at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre

This was my first visit to the newly reopened Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford. I do like the new auditorium, so like the temporary Courtyard Theatre, but much more glamorous. First of all I have to say that Jonathon Slinger is not an obvious choice for the lead role. He seemed more suited to roles like Peter the Pardoner in "A Knight's Tale". And I cannot wait to see him in Pinter's "The Homecoming". But he is a mighty fine actor, having played a number of leading roles for the RSC. And he makes a vivid interpretation of Macbeth's descent into madness. Although I preferred Aislin McGuckin as a rampant Lady Macbeth.

Michael Boyd is a great director, but somehow I left the play feeling a little uneasy. The first half was brilliant. And the introduction to the second half, which repeats the closing scene of the first with one huge difference, is inspired. But from there on it fell just a little flat. Maybe it could just not keep up with what went before.

The new stage is fabulous. The ceiling is cavernous and things descend with great theatricality. Apparently there is seven metres depth under the stage, and this also has a part to play. The lighting (except for the number of low slung awful fluorescent tubes that are used far too much)and acoustics are top notch. The money has been well spent.

SPOILER ALERT

I found the use of children in place of the three witches a step too far from the original text. No cauldron in site, but a hugely dramatic entrance for the children as they descend from a huge height, motionless on meathooks. But why play Seyton as the Porter??? What should be one of the the funniest scenes in the whole of Shakespeare as the Porter, as he appears drunk. I suddenly remembered a production of Macbeth at the Nottingham Playhouse some forty years ago, when Barry Rutter was absolutely hilarious as the Porter. It is still a vivid memory. But in this production, Seyton appears as a suicide bomber, added to which he even has an Irish accent. I found this tasteless in the extreme. I'm all for pushing boundaries in Shakespeare, but this was just not funny. The opposite of what the scene is all about.