Stratford Festival 2009 – Shakespeare’s Macbeth

reviewed by Paula Citron
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Macbeth
Stratford Festival
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Des McAnuff
Starring Colm Feore, Yanna McIntosh, Timothy D. Stickney, Dion Johnstone, Geraint Wyn Davies, Gareth Potter and Sophia Walker
At the Festival Theatre until Oct. 31
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The Stratford Festival’s production of Macbeth is an utter bore. So enamoured of technological wizardry is director Des McAnuff that he’s forgotten there is a play. There may be a sleep-walking scene in Macbeth, but in this production, the actors seem to be sleep-walking their way throughout the entire sorry mess.

How can so many good actors look so bad? Led by Colm Feore as Macbeth and Yanna McIntosh as Lady Macbeth, what is a strong cast on paper comes across as unemotional and matter of fact.

Is there anything redeeming about this paint by numbers production? There are some interesting directorial touches like a press conference and cross-cutting scenes, but they can’t save the blandness of the acting. I suppose some of the special effects, particularly the shades of Rwanda war scenes, have interest, but shock and awe fire power and a jeep or two cannot compensate for lack of heart and soul.

Macbeth continues at Stratford’s Festival Theatre until Oct. 31.