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I know I went to see "Macbeth" when I still wore short
breeches.
The first bit scared me half to death. Let’s see – (Enter
Three Witches)
"When shall we three meet again?"-
(What’s all this tripe
about?)
"In thunder, lightning or in rain." - (I bet we’ll soon
find out!)
Macbeth it seems has gone to pains his loyalty for to prove,
And now the ratbag entertains King Duncan ’neath his roof.
Alas, Macbeth (urged by his wife) to kingship does
aspire
And plans to take King Duncan’s life to gain his heart’s
desire.
Macbeth whilst with his wife alone, is heard to mutter
thickly,
"If it were done, then when ’tis done, ’twere well it were
done quickly!"
He rambles on in English queer and hard to understand;
"Is this a dagger lying here the handle toward mine hand?"
Thus, off he goes, still muttering and leaves her on her own.
Then as the candle’s guttering, come back and says, "’Tis
done!"
He goes to bed to groan and snore until the spectres creep
Into his mind with:
"Sleep no more - Macbeth does murder
sleep!"
The King’s discovered stabbed to death (but not upon the
stage),
By Lord Macduff who tells Macbeth, all choked with grief and
rage.
Macbeth then gets to worrying about his mate, Banquo,
Who also wants to be the King. Macbeth says,
"He
must go!"
So enter next three murderers, who poor old Banquo seize.
(Why is it, in old Shakespeare’s verse, the baddies come in
threes?)
Then later, in the Witches’ cave, "By the pricking off my
thumbs"
We hear the No.2 witch rave, "Something wicked this way
comes!"
Macbeth then enters from the wings, scared half out of his
life,
"Beware, Macduff!" a phantom sings: "Beware the Thane
of Fife!"
And then it tells Macbeth he should in complete safety reign –
"Until the trees of Birnham Wood come up to Dunsinane!"
By now Macduff has used his head, he knows Macbeth is
balmy.
And to Northumberland he’s fled, to raise a private army.
Macbeth’s wife with her wits astray, scrubs bloody hands and
screeches:
"Out, damned spot, out, out I say!" (She never hear of
bleaches?)
Macbeth learns Macduff’s on his way and stands his blokes to
arms.
But recalls the ghostly prophesy, and holds no fear or qualms.
But then his poor mad missus dies – and, filled with guilt and
sorrow,
"There would have been more time" he cries, "tomorrow
and tomorrow!"
Meanwhile, Macduff’s in Birnam Wood, with all his entourage.
Says he, "I think my army should make use of camouflage!"
And so, with shields all leaf-bestrewed, they creep up
from the plain.
(And that’s the way that Birnam Wood comes up to
Dunsinane!)
Then on the stage, a ding-dong fight! (These actors know
their stuff!)
And old Macbeth, though white with fright, yells out: "Lay
on, Macduff!"
The closing scene is really good, with blokes all lying dead.
Then Macduff enters, soaked in blood - with Macbeth’s
chopped-off head!
And as he stands there spouting, we all stretch our aching
legs. It’s
All over, bar the shouting - and time for us to
make our exits!
Gerry Forster
© Gerry Forster 1987
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