Shakespeare's "Macbeth" (Ian McKellen) "If it were done...

wow ... really well done... i am playing lady macbeth and it seems really hard to act her character.. does anyone have any advice xxx

@Beckybabes24 I would suggest playing her as an actress in the play--meaning, she is playing the role of the "good wife" in order to manipulate Macbeth. Yet, at times, I would play her as the more powerful of the two--play her as the one who pushes him beyond his "vaulting ambition." Play her as the one who truly hides her true face--"false face must hide what false heart doth know."

That said, note the reversal in role as the play continues: MmmBeth becomes the bloddy and ambitious one; and she withdraws, transforming from "a little water clears us of this deed" to "will these hands ne'er be clean." And her invocation of the dark early in the play contrasting with her need for candlelight at the end. Just some thoughts.

Holy Gawd, I love ian McKellan! In my actor top ten. One issue with the video--I despise the early/mid-twentieth century notion that sioliloquy should be directed to the audience. I don't like it when Shakespeare breaks the non-Uta fourth wall.

I think the breaking of the fourth wall is very powerful. It's purpose is to actively win the support of the audience; it's history is from the greek Tragedy!

It works when it works. I don't belive that Shakespeare was designed for it. Shakespeare is only extradramatic in his Choruses. Greek Tragedy's Choruses were directed to the gods. Too often actors take "aside" to mean "to the audience;" this is not so. If the fourth wall is continually shattered, it loses all value. Excepted are certain plays designed to be extradramtic; e. g., "Rosencrantz. . . are Dead", "The Glass Menagerie," et al.

I LOVE this version!!!

man, I love Ian McKellen---so damn talented

Agreed :D