ShakespeaRe-Told: Season 1, Episode 2Macbeth (14 Nov. 2005)A chef and his restaurant-hostess wife resort to murder to take ownership of a high-class Glaswegian restaurant. Director:Mark Brozel |
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ShakespeaRe-Told: Season 1, Episode 2Macbeth (14 Nov. 2005)A chef and his restaurant-hostess wife resort to murder to take ownership of a high-class Glaswegian restaurant. Director:Mark Brozel |
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| Episode cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| James McAvoy | ... | ||
| Keeley Hawes | ... |
Ella
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| Joseph Millson | ... | ||
| Vincent Regan | ... | ||
| Richard Armitage | ... | ||
| Philip Whitchurch | ... |
Harry Gibby
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Richard Ridings | ... |
Maurice
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| Ralph Ineson | ... |
Barry
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| Charles Abomeli | ... |
Andy
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| Toby Kebbell | ... |
Malcolm
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Gregory Chisholm | ... |
Jonny Boy
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Barry Ward | ... |
Roddy
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Packy Lee | ... |
Heaney
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Matthew Dunphy | ... |
Doyle
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Clive Brunt | ... |
DCI Varley
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In a modern retelling of William Shakespeare's "Scottish play," three strange garbage collectors make a glorious prediction for head chef Joe Macbeth's future. With his wife Ella goading him on, Macbeth makes plans to take ownership of the high-class Glaswegian restaurant where they are both employed. The first step: murder owner and celebrity-chef Duncan... Written by L. Hamre
The name Joe Macbeth was used before, in a 1955 version with a gangster setting. This new version seems also to tip its hand to the Orson Welles and Roman Polanski versions, by borrowing details. But plenty is new and interesting. Lady Macbeth gets a bit of a back story involving that baby whom Shakespeare mentions in a throwaway remark, and she has a literally luminous presence (compared to the rest of the lighting) that does not depend on her relationship to Macbeth. For Macbeth's part, a little extra motivation is inserted to replace the lust for the crown, since there's no crown to be had this time-- at least not one that any arguably sane person could imagine killing for. It may be a matter of opinion, but I think that all the kitchen business does manage to fill the gap in interest left by the omission of Shakespeare's language (though no one could compare a pig's head to "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow"). What I did see as a flaw is that no great contrast emerges between Mr. and Mrs. Macbeth as the story advances after the first murder. They seem to break down pretty much in parallel, and he is the less interesting, even in his climactic comeuppance.