What do you think?
Rate this book
Mac Beth
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 12, 2022
My daughter recently spent a few weeks in a summer camp as part of a production of “Macbeth”. Cool! But kinda whatever. And then I looked up some information about the adaptation and was instantly intrigued.
“Mac Beth”, adapted by Erica Schmidt, is an abridged version of the Shakespeare play intended for a cast of seven young women. Schoolgirls all, they meet in an abandoned lot to act out the play. The roles for the seven are Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Macduff, Banquo, and the three witches - who also play the other minor roles. The play is performed as intended - for the most part - but it’s always clear that the play is performed by seven young women. That lends the story a youthful exuberance: MacDuff screaming across the stage with a giant flag as he flees to England, or the witches pounding the ground with glee as they incant a prophecy. The casting also fundamentally alters the feel of many scenes. I reacted one way to a grown Lady Macbeth hectoring a grown Macbeth into committing regicide; another way to watching one schoolgirl bullying another into committing murder.
One other difference changes the entire atmosphere of the play. The witches are played with a crazed intensity that ends up permeating each and every scene. This effect is heightened because the witches are omnipresent on the stage, whether as themselves or as a minor character. The result is a sense of growing madness that lends an almost hallucinatory quality to the adaptation, and which is paid off quite shockingly in the climax. “MacBeth” is a classic tale with many storied productions, and it’s impressive that Schmidt has created a version that retains the essence of the original while also telling something new.
“Mac Beth”, adapted by Erica Schmidt, is an abridged version of the Shakespeare play intended for a cast of seven young women. Schoolgirls all, they meet in an abandoned lot to act out the play. The roles for the seven are Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Macduff, Banquo, and the three witches - who also play the other minor roles. The play is performed as intended - for the most part - but it’s always clear that the play is performed by seven young women. That lends the story a youthful exuberance: MacDuff screaming across the stage with a giant flag as he flees to England, or the witches pounding the ground with glee as they incant a prophecy. The casting also fundamentally alters the feel of many scenes. I reacted one way to a grown Lady Macbeth hectoring a grown Macbeth into committing regicide; another way to watching one schoolgirl bullying another into committing murder.
One other difference changes the entire atmosphere of the play. The witches are played with a crazed intensity that ends up permeating each and every scene. This effect is heightened because the witches are omnipresent on the stage, whether as themselves or as a minor character. The result is a sense of growing madness that lends an almost hallucinatory quality to the adaptation, and which is paid off quite shockingly in the climax. “MacBeth” is a classic tale with many storied productions, and it’s impressive that Schmidt has created a version that retains the essence of the original while also telling something new.
July 27, 2025
I read this play because my daughter is currently in a local production, playing Banquo. I've never been great at reading Shakespeare, but she wanted to make sure I knew what was going on when I come to see it! An interesting premise, that Mac Beth is being put on by a group of girls in a vacant lot. I'm also still pondering the author's note, referring to a murder committed by a group of girls. I may add to this review after I actually see the play!
Follow up: the group of late teen & 20 something actresses really did an excellent job with this complicated piece. What is the play and what is real? How do they feel about it? How should the audience feel about it? There were definitely times that other audience members were laughing that I could not relate. Glad I read it, so I knew how it was going to end.
Follow up: the group of late teen & 20 something actresses really did an excellent job with this complicated piece. What is the play and what is real? How do they feel about it? How should the audience feel about it? There were definitely times that other audience members were laughing that I could not relate. Glad I read it, so I knew how it was going to end.
January 25, 2021
A very good adaptation with a shocking twist. I’m going to be thinking about this one for a while.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews