Camden Fringe Review: Macbeth

Lindsey
By Lindsey Last edited 175 months ago
Camden Fringe Review: Macbeth

Ziggy_Macbeth_1.jpg
Ziggy Stardust as Macbeth played by a woman with incredible bone structure
Get Over It's rapid Hamlet last year was a surprise treat, one of those pot luck shows that won us over. This year, they're tackling Macbeth, swopping speed for glamrock. The tragic hero is a swaggering Ziggy Stardust in a silver flightsuit, replete with to die for orange platforms and played by a woman with an incredibly convincing Bowie haircut.

Bafflingly, they're still opening with an unrelated dance routine but their approach to the play, based on strong character performances with 70s glam styling works enjoyably well for the most part. Get Over It are an absurdist, all female troupe but this is a traditional interpretation with added dance routines and a touching focus on the relationship between the Macbeths. Towards the climax, however, the show verges on the pantomimic as Macbeth's ruthlessly obtained kingship collapses round his platform boots. There's a lack of gravitas to sustain the high drama and mass slaughter right through to the final line. We blame the silver suit.

But this is a gutsy, fun production of the Scottish play with a priceless Porter performance and you've got 3 more opportunities to see it.

Macbeth by William Shakespeare is at the Roundhouse Studio Theatre, Thursday 13, Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August at 4.30pm. Camden Fringe runs until 30th August. All tickets £7.50. Check out other Fringe coverage on Londonist.

Last Updated 12 August 2009