Lady Macbeth Uncut
Lady Macbeth Uncut presents a fascinating concept: exploring the character of Lady Macbeth beyond her traditional role in Shakespeare's tragedy. Unfortunately, this potential is largely squandered, resulting in a production that feels more like a shortened version of Macbeth with a few additional Lady Macbeth scenes.
One of the most glaring issues is the underdevelopment of Lady Macbeth, played by Catriona Clancy, herself. While the three maids are given more depth and agency, Lady Macbeth remains largely unchanged from the original play. This imbalance creates a sense of disharmony in the portrayal of these characters. The three maids were much more interesting and had deeper character development than potentially any other characters that this play explored.
The minimalist set, designed by Najia Alavi, while effective in some ways, fails to create the desired atmosphere. It feels like a missed opportunity to use hanging cloth sheets or gauze to add a layer of depth and dimension to the space. Instead, the set remains a static backdrop. The backdrop could have been used to create shadows for ghosts or depict scenes behind these if they are to be hidden in some way. However, it felt this level of creativity was left out and set and costume designer Najia Alavi hadn’t thought far enough ahead about the possibilities.
This translates also to the costume which was incoherent with the female characters dressed in traditional Shakespeare cloths and the male characters were in cargos, camo and timberland boots. Not only was this jarring but also created a confusion in the setting and timeline of the play. This is before considering the props and use of combat knives which are then called “swords” alongside a cauldron appearing as a cleaning bucket probably from the theatre’s maintenance cupboard.
Catriona Clancy's performance as Lady Macbeth is underwhelming. Her portrayal lacks depth and feels at times like she is simply reciting lines. This was particularly disappointing considering Clancy is also credited as the writer. While her additional Lady Macbeth scenes that have been added to Shakespeares original story were seamlessly added and in a language akin to that of the bard, her skills perhaps are stronger with the quill rather than on the boards. This contrasts sharply with Michael Ohren's strong and nuanced performance as Macbeth. The on-stage tension between the two actors seems more like a lack of collaboration than a genuine conflict between the characters.
Despite these shortcomings, the supporting cast delivers solid performances. Emmy Happisbugh, Maggie Saunders, Sally Sharp, Alexander HJ Smith, JT Stocks, and Alex Walton all contribute to the production. However, the multi-rolling could have been handled more clearly, with assistance from costume and direction with more distinct physical characteristics to differentiate between roles.
The direction by Emma Copland is competent, with smooth transitions and effective use of lighting to highlight key moments. Michael Ohren's performance, in particular, benefits from Nell Golledge's lighting design, which effectively conveys Macbeth's growing guilt and mental deterioration.
Overall, Lady Macbeth Uncut is a missed opportunity to delve deeper into the character of Lady Macbeth. While there are some strong performances and moments, the production ultimately feels like a missed opportunity and underdeveloped idea that needed more time before coming to the stage.
This show was reviewed on the 16th October 2024 at the Drayton Arms Theatre, London where it runs until the 26th October 2024. For tickets visit: Lady Macbeth Uncut - Drayton Arms Theatre (thedraytonarmstheatre.co.uk)
Review written by Ryan Lenney
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Photo credit: Alex Walton
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