In Trevor Nunn’s version of the play, at the opening scene, there is only a dark background, and it stays this way throughout the play. The reason for this is maybe to emphasise the effect of the words and actions on the reaction to the production. All the characters of the play are seated in a circle, almost as though they were playing a part in a ritual. The church organ playing in the background also adds to the way that the beginning seems particularly religious. Eventually the witches walk out into the middle. Again, the witches are dressed very dark, and act in as if they are very close to each other, as though their very beings have been tied together by the work they do. The rest of the characters split from the witches, and we then see Duncan bowing down to pray, along with many other characters. The witches act as if they are ill, as if evil has overcome them. It is not possible to tell when the play was set, due to the fact there is no set or background to base our guesses on, but judging from their costumes, it seems to be from the 16th century.
In act 1 Scene 3, the scene where Banquo and Macbeth learn their fate, both plays have played this scene out quite differently. In Roman Polanski’s production, the same three witches from the beach are there. After they tell Macbeth and Banquo what will happen, Banquo tries to find out more, but the witches run away. They do not simply vanish, as the play states, meaning that the element of reality is kept. This scene is set in the country hills, at the ruin of an old building, which we later learn is the den of the witches. After the witches have gone, Macbeth and Banquo talk casually about their encounter with the witches, almost as if they didn’t quite believe what had just happened, Macbeth seems to reject the idea of the future foretold to him, and is very shocked when he is pronounced Thane of Cawdor.
In Trevor’s production, Macbeth and Banquo act towards the witches like they are the enemy, drawing their swords. The witches, however, are not scared by their threats, and tell Macbeth and Banquo of the future. The threatening attitude does not disappear in this scene at all.
Act 4, scene 1 is the scene in which Macbeth returns to the witches, to learn more of his future. Roman Polanski’s version of the play shows a witch greeting him. In the den, which is underneath the ground, there are many, many witches, all of whom are entirely naked, and revoltingly ugly, this is perhaps because of the way the audience were supposed to view the witches, in all the ugly evil glory. Only one of the witches, seeming to be the lead one, is in clothes. The music in this scene is very bleak, with one instrument playing a constant chord, with an eerie tune being played behind. The witches all start to rhyme. A number of ingredients are added to a cauldron, and then the lead witch takes a cup of this, and adds blood. The cup is handed to Macbeth. After he reluctantly drinks it, he is brought over to a water font, usually found in a church used for infant baptism. Here he hallucinates what lies ahead. He is told to fear Macduff, to which he reacts quite calmly, as if he was expecting it, he is told to fear none of woman born, and his own mind gets in the way of his judgement, and so he thinks he has none to fear, not even Macduff. He is also told that he will never be defeated until Birnam wood travels to Dunsinane Hill, and to this he reacts as though e is invincible, as he believe it impossible for trees to get up and move The hallucination has a sense of corruption, as there are many emotions, such as happiness and sadness, as well as anger involved. After this, Macbeth awakens outside, with his horse. The witches have also made an exit, perhaps through a secret entrance. The entire scene is set at an eerie dusk.
Trevor’s production is somewhat different. We simply witness Macbeth taking a drink, while the witches comfort him, and tell him beware. The witches also blindfold Macbeth. They also rhyme, perhaps to set a feeling to Macbeth that a spell is being put on him. We then see Macbeth acting very frightened, obviously by what he sees ahead of him. The witches apply a silvery anointment to his body and head, seemingly in the shape of an upside down cross. This again, shows perhaps the religious side of the play, and how the divination has been turned upside down, by the murder of ‘God on Earth’. After this scene is over, Macbeth seems to be mad when he his attendants tell him that Macduff has fled to England.
In both productions, the scene Act 3 Scene 5 is not included. This is because many think that Shakespeare did not write this scene. Directors think it is not important, has no significance, and that it is best to keep the play as it was written, by the genius that is Shakespeare himself.
