The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 8.0981.  Tuesday, 30 September 1997.

[1]     From:   Jung Jimmy <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
        Date:   Monday, 29 Sep 1997 16:10 -0500
        Subj:   Good and Bad in the Scottish Play

[2]     From:   John M Boni <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
        Date:   Monday, 29 Sep 1997 16:21:08 -0500 (CDT)
        Subj:   Re: SHK 8.0973  Re: Mac Ending

[3]     From:   Skip Nicholson <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
        Date:   Monday, 29 Sep 1997 18:49:56 -0700
        Subj:   Re: Mac Ending


[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Jung Jimmy <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date:           Monday, 29 Sep 1997 16:10 -0500
Subject:        Good and Bad in the Scottish Play

My mind wanders and I was wondering what would happen if Macbeth's
adversaries were played as more evil and less heroic.  If Duncan, Banquo
and Malcolm were lound noisy oafish soldiers and Macbeth was the
slightly ambitious hero.

What if at Duncan first appearance he marches on to a field of bleeding
dying men, kicks one, grabs him by the hair and says :

DUNCAN
    What bloody man is that? He can report,
     As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt
     The newest state.

Would it ruin the play?

Has it ever been performed that way?

[2]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:           John M Boni <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date:           Monday, 29 Sep 1997 16:21:08 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: 8.0973  Re: Mac Ending
Comment:        Re: SHK 8.0973  Re: Mac Ending

Tim Richards asks if anyone has seen a production of *Macbeth* depicting
the witches as finally watching triumphantly over Macbeth's demise,
etc.  It seems to me that I recall one such production but cannot place
it as to location, date, or other details.  What I do recall is a
negative reaction-it all seemed too obvious.  But then, I have trouble
with the witches in the play anyhow.  Sorry about that.

[3]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Skip Nicholson <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date:           Monday, 29 Sep 1997 18:49:56 -0700
Subject:        Re: Mac Ending

I hope some director, somewhere has brought the witches back to enjoy
the final bloodletting in Macbeth as Tim Richards suggests might be fun.
I've never seen it done, BUT Polanski's movie of Macbeth ends, as I
recall, with everyone heading off to Malcolm's investiture. Everyone,
that is, except Donalbain, who rides into the landscape used for the
witches' big scenes while the soundtrack reprises the theme music
associated with the weird sisters. The suggestion is strong that
paddock, Graymalkin & Co. have more work to do before they sleep!

Skip Nicholson
South Pasadena (CA) HS

Subscribe to Our Feeds

Search

Make a Gift to SHAKSPER

Consider making a gift to support SHAKSPER.