Notes on Acts 4 and 5 - Macbeth

Act 4
Scene 1:  Keep the energy up!  All witches need to speak the unison part!  Learn the lines!!!  Speak rhythmically.  PROJECT!!  Nice, Farah -- gestures good!  Use the audience, Macbeth.  Interrupt!  Speak before she's finished.  Second apparition, nice.  Come in on time!!  Witches, be still!! Don't move!  Don't touch your clothes or fiddle with your hair!  Cover your eyes on "I'll see no more".

We need to do this scene at lunch next week.

Pull on her lingeringly, witches.

2:  Great entrance, all Macduffs and Ross.  Nice with the wren, Lady Macduff.  Very moving, Ross!  Lovely.  Nice pertness, young Macduff.  Great family scene.  Great shift to traitor.  Great scene, all.

3.  Good on "bleed".  Nice -- "it weeps, it bleeds".  We need bigger reactions.  "But I have more .. . " make this darker.  Macduff, it's like someone thinking of what Trump will do to the US.  We can't have the same attempted exit twice.  Second time, Macduff, don't exit -- kick over a chair.  Challenge Malcolm.  When Malc. described the ulcerous sores, etc., Macduff, picture it.  Great announcement, Ross.  PROJECT!!  Macduff, shake Malc off when you say "he has no children".  Macbeth is the hell-kite.  Big on "Woman with mine eyes"

Act 5
Sc. 1:  Great on "fie" -- you brought yourself up very tall -- it looked great.  "Give me your hand" -- then recoil.  Great scene!

2:  Keep looking out at the enemy.  We need to run this scene, too.

3:  push harder, Macbeth.  Demand that Seyton come, not ask.  "Obedience" not "discipline".  James, on Macbeth's right, not left.  Be ready for your cues, everyone!

STAY IN CHARACTER.  No laughing.  No acting out of character on stage.  Play your person's emotions.

5:  OUCH!  Very rough.

6.  James, be still.  Very moving, Macbeth!  Great on "moving grove".

7.  Young Siward needs a sword.  "Thou" is pronounced "Th-ow".

CONCENTRATE!  LEARN YOUR LINES.  We need to practice the sword fights.

Malcolm, you've learned that you need to be sympathetic to those who serve you -- you say, "he's worth more sorrow..." etc., not like you were with Macduff.

After school on Monday -- we will do Act 5!