"ShakespeaRe-Told"
Macbeth (2005)

Director:

Mark Brozel

Writers:

Peter Moffat (writer)
William Shakespeare (play)

TV Series:

"ShakespeaRe-Told" (2005)

Original Air Date:

14 November 2005 (Season 1, Episode 2)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Shakespeare | Macbeth | Shakespeare's Macbeth | William Shakespeare | Based On Play

Awards:

1 win

Cast

James McAvoy	...	Joe Macbeth
Keeley Hawes	...	Ella Macbeth
Joseph Millson	...	Billy
Vincent Regan	...	Duncan
Richard Armitage	...	Peter Macduff
Philip Whitchurch	...	Harry Gibby
Richard Ridings	...	Maurice
Ralph Ineson	...	Barry
Charles Abomeli	...	Andy
Toby Kebbell	...	Malcolm
Gregory Chisholm	...	Jonny Boy
Barry Ward	...	Roddy
Packy Lee	...	Heaney
Matthew Dunphy	...	Doyle
Clive Brunt	...	DCI Varley

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:12 | Australia:M

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Billy's line "Just call him 'The Scottish Chef'" is a sly reference to the superstition in the theatre that it is bad luck to mention the title "Macbeth" - instead it is usually referred to euphemistically as "The Scottish Play".

Quotes:

[Malcolm unwittingly makes a faux pas by mentioning the name of TV chef Gordon Ramsay]
Joe Macbeth: If I make a mistake, it hurts me. Do you understand that? I mean, actual physical pain.
Malcolm: That's very 'Gordon Ramsay'.
[stunned silence]
Roddy Maloney: We don't use that name in this kitchen. Didn't your father tell you?
Billy: It's bad luck to say it out loud. Just call him 'The Scottish Chef'.

Movie Connections:

Version of Macbeth (1966) (TV)

Keeley was superb

Is there any role that the wonderfully versatile Keeley Hawes cannot tackle? She was certainly the mainstay as "Ella (Lady) Macbeth" in this decent modern adaptation of Shakespeare's "Macbeth", aided by excellent performances by all, except perhaps James McAvoy who to my mind somewhat overplayed the title role a tad. I also thought that the script, though clever, was a little disjointed.

I wasn't sure at first whether or not the restaurant setting would work, and it did indeed take a little while to get used to, but once the play settled, it turned out to be quite an inventive interpretation, with good use of lighting to create a suitably Gothic-like atmosphere.

I can't say this was the best production of "Macbeth" I've ever witnessed, but it was by no means the worst, and if only for Keeley's performance alone, it was well worth seeing.