In this essay I will look at two different views on the production, "Macbeth," originally written by William Shakespeare and how two different directors have used their imagination to create suspense and excitement in the opening scenes of the play.

The opening scene to any production is probably the most important scene of the whole play. This may be for a film, book, or in this case a stage production. The opening scene will set out the genre for the play and the main characters. The opening scene has to create suspense, be intriguing and also capture the attention of the audience. This is very important because if the opening scene is not interesting then the audience may lose interest and may not continue watching.

In this essay I will look at two different views on the production, “Macbeth,” originally written by William Shakespeare and how two different directors have used their imagination to create suspense and excitement in the opening scenes of the play. This is often described as “bringing the page to the stage”

I will look at the opening scene of Shakespeare’s production and also Polanski’s production of the same play, “Macbeth” From the start Polanski is at and advantage as he has the use of technology to help him create the desired effect but with Shakespeare, he didn’t have such aids.

AS a brief description of the opening scene, there are three witches who come together to cast a spell. The overall objective is to create suspense and a sinister atmosphere.

For the stage notes from Shakespeare he wrote the opening scene should be set, “in an open place.” Polanski has interpreted these directions very effectively and had his opening scene set on a beach. There were no people or sunshine or happiness that we would normally associate with a beach but instead the beach was dull, boring and empty. When you first see the opening scene of Polanski’s version you can immediately see the red sky. This maybe has something to do with the saying, “A red sky in the morning is a shepherds warning.” This, again create suspense and also set the scene for the audience to inform them a little about the rest of the play. You can also see in this opening scene that the beach is bright at the start but as soon as the witches are brought into the play, the beach immediately becomes dull and eerie.

In the stage directions Shakespeare also suggest the use of Thunder and lightning. The thunder and lightning is also to make the atmosphere look more supernatural and ghostly. When Shakespeare wrote Macbeth people were very superstitious and frightened of thunder and lightening and this was a way Shakespeare could grab the audience’s attention. Although people are still scared of thunder and lightening today and Polanski has the use of better technology he did not use thunder and lightening in his opening scene. To create a sinister atmosphere Polanski uses other sounds instead of thunder and lightening.

Throughout the ...

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Throughout the opening scene eerie music can be heard playing and a lonesome seagull can be seen flying about making noises as if it was unhappy. You can also hear a crow cawing. A crow which is normally associated with a witches and evil also helps to create an evil atmosphere. All these sounds and visuals in the opening scene help build up an atmosphere that is eerie, sinister and evil.

When the three witches come on screen they are all wearing torn rags and cloaks. They are not very nice to look at and although at first you would not know they were witches. The three witches were of three different ages. There was a fairly young witch, middle aged witch and an older witch. I think Polanski used this age range to signify that witchcraft can affect any one of any age. If you look closely at the opening scene you may notice that the younger witch appears to be dumb, the middle-aged witch appears to be deaf while the older witch appears to be blind. I think Polanski as used these disabilities to show that these women were outcasts of society.

The witches once described by Banquo as, “So withered, and so wild in their attire, That look like the inhabitants o’ th’ earth, And yet are on’t?

When the witches first come on scene they arrive with an old wobbly cart. The older witch draws a circle in the sand on the beach with and old crooked stick. Because this stick is old and crooked, it shows how evil and wicked the witches are and how Macbeth is going to be.

The witches then begin to dig out the out in the circle drawn by the older witch. They then put some items in the hole. These items are very important and put in the hole for a reason. The first item is a noose. I think Polanski uses this prop to show how the Thane of Cawdor was hung for committing treason. The next item they place in the hole is a human hand. Throughout the whole play there are a lot of instances where hands are used. “What hands are here? Ha! They pluck out mine eyes.” And also, “Will all great Neptune’s ocean was this blood clean from my hand?” It also shows the evil hands Macbeth had. The last item the witches place in the hole is dagger. I believe this is the dagger that Macbeth will use to kill King Duncan with later in the play. “Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand.” Macbeths mind is corrupted and he imagines seeing a dagger before him. Before this, he was unsure about killing Macbeth but this helped him in deciding what to do.

The witches then sprinkle something over the hole. This probably the remains of an old spell. This just shows that the witches are evil and casting a spell. Finally, before covering over the hole the witches pour blood over the contents. This blood it to symbolise murder that Macbeth will commit. While all this is happening nothing is said by any of the witches until they cover over the hole. The witches all speak together uttering their lines.

In Polanski’s version he change some of the words spoken by the witches and the order in which it is spoken. Another difference is that Shakespeare had all three witches speak where Polanski’s youngest witch was dumb and therefore did not speak at all.

In Polanski’s one of the first things said in the opening scene is, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair; Hover through the fog and filthy air.” Further on in the play the first words that Macbeth speaks are, “So foul and fair a day I have not seen.” You can see that in both of these sentences the words, “Foul and fair” are used. The witches uses them first and then Macbeth. This shows the witches have been up to something and have corrupted Macbeths mind. Though in Shakespeare’s version he uses these words, “Foul and fair” at the end of the text. This doesn’t have as much effect as in Polanski’s version where he shows the connection between the witches and Macbeth right at the start.

We learn Macbeth is regarded as “noble and valiant cousin” and the king puts his trust in him saying, “He was a gentleman on which I build as absolute trust.” Little does the king know that “noble” Macbeth has been affected by the witches and will betray him.

In Polanski’s version, the last words spoken are, “There to meet with……..Macbeth!”

They pause between the words, “with” and “Macbeth” to catch the audience’s attention. Polanski made the last word be “Macbeth.” This is a good way of ending the scene as it will leave the audience thinking about the name and what is in store for him.

I think Polanski has interpreted Shakespeare original story very well and has produced a very exciting and eerie opening scene. This is very important for the film and after watching the opening scene it made me want to watch on to see what the outcome was for Macbeth.

Russell Lyness 12E