BWW Reviews: MACBETH OF FIRE AND ICE, Arcola Theatre, November 8 2013

Like a bad night in Sauciehall Street, Jon Gun Thor's version of Macbeth is packed with scheming, macho violence and blood. Well, it is The Scottish Play after all. Pared back to 90 minutes and with a cast of six, many playing multiple roles, there's so much brawling and calling out that it sometimes feels like the a medieval Wrestlemania, especially with the lads' guns (that's arms, not firearms) well to the fore and the Weird Sisters providing a commentary on events - though there's subtlety too in the motif of Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life, and the spinning of threads that bind - and snap.

The essence of the play remains, of course, but it's a big challenge for the actors to convey its complexity, particularly the shifting attitudes of the principals, at this pace. Mark Ebulue's Macbeth is imprisoned by the temptation of the glories of title and privilege - and by a wife who eyes light up once the possibilities of the prophecies dawn on her. Molly Gromadzki may look like a painting of the Lady given life - but the eyes burn with passion whether in the embrace of her husband or the psychotic grip of ambition. Supporting them, Alex Britton is a vengeful Macduff and Joseph Macnab a very bloodstained Banquo.

There's music, masks and dance to go with the misery and that largely adds to the tale - though the ominous cello did grate after a while. With plenty going on and little in the way of costume changes to mark an actor's transition to a different part, it's definitely wise to sneak a sly peek at Wikipedia 's plot summary before taking your seat.

Ultimately, rather like the man himself, this Macbeth is undone by the scale of its ambition - just a little less action might have produced a more satisfying result.

Macbeth of Fire and Ice continues at the Arcola Theatre until November 16.

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