Macbeth - Alan Cumming, Tramway, Glasgow

[AgentProvocateur]

Anyone else going to this? I'm going next week and I can't wait. It's a one-man-show, set in a psychiatric hospital. Sounds like it will either be brilliant or too left-field.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

I'm booked for the last night, 30 June. Really looking forward to it!

[AgentProvocateur]

How exciting! I will report back after I've been.

[nulgirl]

Ooohh you guys are lucky. Was wanting to see it but it was sold out. Please report back on how it was.

[tootssweet]

I am very I would love to see this but live in England & can't justify the ££'s to go see it. Please report back it'll be great to hear about it.

Also since when was there a culture vulture bit?? I would go on this a lot!

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

After reading The Herald's review today (doesn't seem to be online) I'm a bit worried that Mr Cumming won't have the energy left by the last night!

A lttle advice, if anyone can give some? DH confessed last night that he has never seen, read or studied Macbeth, and knows nothing of the story. Given that this production is a bit "off the wall", would it be a good idea for him to see a DVD of a previous production? I'm torn between Iain McKellen's version, which seems a fairly "straight" rendition, and Patrick Stewart's performance, and admit I may be biased after seeing Mr Stewart as Shylock at the RSC recently.

[AgentProvocateur]

Was it a good review? I've not found any online yet. When DS was doing Macbeth in second year and not enjoying it, I bought him a comic strip book ( but for adults - prob not describing it well) for him. It was an easy explanation of the story. Perhaps your DH might enjoy it.

Others - I will give you a full report on Thursday.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

"Flying without a safety net, Cumming opens himself up physically, mentally and emotionally in a performance of fearless bravura." Yes, it's a good review, but it sounds an exhausting performance!

My friend is a graphic artist who does "comic books" for adults so I know what you mean, will have a look on Amazon.

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

Please do let us know what you think of it! I'm in London and am hoping it will tour or transfer after the Tramway run finishes.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

He's off to New York after the Tramway. Haven't heard of plans to transfer to London yet.

[AgentProvocateur]

I can't wait - I have spoken to friends that have been already, and they were raving about it.

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

Arse. Oh well.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Better wait for Agent's review before booking flights!

[AgentProvocateur]

Well, that was amazing. First, for OldLadyKnowsNothing - the practicalities. The doors open at 7, and the downstairs queue was quite long, but we went upstairs and went in from the top. Seats are unreserved, and it was very very hot, so take a drink. You can take drinks in with you - but don't have too much, because there's no readmittance!

The show was great. AC was completely awe-inspiring in his ability to perform for almost two hours. Could not have been better. The only disappointment for me was that I didn't know Macbeth as well as I thought I did (I did it over 30 years ago for Higher English) so there were chunks where I was really confused, and I didn't get what was happening and who AC was "being". DS, who's done it at school a lot more recently, had a better grasp of it than I did.

I think if you have never read Macbeth, you'd be totally lost and I wouldn't recommend it - purely because AC plays all the parts, and it was confusing. His acting was amazing, and he was in and out the bath, running about... I don't know how he did it. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Ah, many thanks for that, I was sure we had numbered tickets (and we do, but on checking I see that they're just numbers, rather than seat numbers.)

Will definitely get a video or two for DH, I did think it sounded a bit "difficult" if you don't know the story. And it won't hurt to refresh my own memory, though I saw it fairly recently at the RSC.

Oooh, quite excited now!

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

Thanks, Agent! Glad you enjoyed it. I do hope I get to see it.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Agent, my apologies for not getting back here sooner, have been distracted by the FWR shenanigans. Thank you so much for the advice about seating allocation (we also went upstairs) and taking water. Agree it was a mesmerising performance, and I was really, really glad that DH and I watched the Patrick Stewart version (linked in a previous post) a few days earlier! If anyone else gives a toss, we also tried watching the McKellen version but it was a bit dry, the Stewart one was far more engaging.

And if any New Yorkers are reading, and you can get a ticket, do so!

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

SOOOOO wish I could just nip to NYC to see it! I read an interview with him where he said they were doing New York and that was it because it was exhausting and was leaving him a bit 'damaged'. Fair dos but could they not manage a teeny tiny run in London?

[Ungratefulchild]

We saw it a couple of weeks ago and it was amazing. A little hard at the beginning to understand what character he was being but it got easier over time.

[AgentProvocateur]

Glad you enjoyed it, Oldlady. And Ungratefulchild. Have either of you g

[AgentProvocateur]

Sorry - have either of you got tickets for anything else? I've just bought some for One Man, Two Guv'nors by National Theatre in Kings in November. Had great reviews in London, although its not James Corden who's doing it up here

[AgentProvocateur]

And LadyClarice, I think I heard there would be a DVD of Macbeth. I know it's not the same as seeing it live, but if you can't get to NY...

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

Thanks!

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

I have tickets for Craig Hill's pre-Edinburgh Festival show, but don't think that counts as "culture"...

Will watch for an Alan Cumming MacBeth video though.