Seen at Edinburgh Festival Fringe on the 10^th of August 2023

4 stars – cleverly hilarious

After having killed Duncan, the Macbeths go on a seaside holiday. They hope to get some rest, and that the king recovers from his nightmares of blood and stabbing and escapes his ghostly visions. In a 20s fancy hotel, they play tennis and do karaoke while trying to avoid Banquo’s ghost. They meet an improbable bunch of characters that turn their stay into something different from the expected relax…

There is a lot to laugh, and it is easy to get carried into this crazy world by the amazing cast of flawless actors and actresses. Macbeth (Ric Walker) and Lady Macbeth (Wendi Weber) have never been as fun – to my experience, but I bet not only. Joe Janes and Lori McClain play various characters each, with great ability in the characterisation and in the switches.

Joe Janes’s text is utterly clever, with a blend of Shakespearean quotations from his most famous works, references to pop culture, gags and puns. Andrea J. Dymond’s direction features great rhythm and highly creative solutions. On top of this, there is accuracy in the way the play has been adapted to the tiny stage that the company had allocated – this said, I still wish I had seen it in a wider space. Costumes also deserve praise, for being highly suggestive, creative and funny in the right moments.

Tickets and Info: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/macbeth-by-the-sea

Company Website: https://www.macbethbythesea.com/