DUNSINANE by David Greig
Royal Shakespeare Company & National Theatre of Scotland, at the Wallis Annenberg Theatre,
Reviewer: Catherine Siggins
You know the old saying, “The more things change, the more they stay the same”. Mankind appears to be behaving as it always has as well as asking the same questions of our existence. We continue to behave in the same warlike manner, particularly in relation to ourselves and our everyday personal struggles. In Dunsinane, playwright David Greig takes a crack at Shakespeare’s existential problems but contextualizes them for a modern audience. Heavily influenced by current world conflicts and revolutions, Greig’s play continues the story of the Scottish play from the moment when Burnim wood makes a house call and King Macbeth loses his head, and he gives us a sequel that captures the essence of Shakespearean tragedy, full of political scheming, desire, love, blood, and humor that challenges the notion of a moral war and raises questions about ethnocentrism that still persists around the world today. Running through the fabric of the play is Shakespeare’s favorite theme of “seeming” wherein deception is made manifest on many levels – from political obfuscation to personal self-deception. The play opens with a wood that isn’t a wood, a vivacious queen (Gruach) who was said to be dead, and a General (Siward) who thinks he can unite the warring tribes of Scotland. All the characters are there for different reasons, but they all use or experience deception in one form or another to endure.
Dunsinane’s rich imagery is wonderfully enhanced by beautiful music and song. This is the second year the RSC and the National Theatre of Scotland have toured with this play. The many months spent repeatedly exploring and working on this play shows in the beautifully nuanced performances. Roxane Silbert’s direction is forceful and focused, bringing out the plays lyrical qualities. The minimal basalt black set by Robert Innes Hopkins focuses the audience’s ear to engage with the rich dialogue. Darrell D’Silva is masterful and riveting as the English general Siward particularly as we watch him navigate the swamps of Scottish politics and lose his way traveling a road to hell paved with his good intentions. To complement D’Silva, Siobhan Redmond is imperious and sensual as Gruach, a complex woman who ‘seems’ indeed to be able to summon up the spirits of the earth to give her strength.
Greig’s other antagonist is King Malcolm WHO IS self-serving, condescending, unapologetic and played with hawkish glee by Ewan Donald. The other cast members of George Brockbanks, Keith Fleming, Tom Gill, Toyin Omari-Kinch, Arthur McBain, Matt McClure, Alex Mann, and the vocally gifted Mairi Morrison and Helen Darbyshire, are all superb.
As the saying goes – this is a play not to be missed. It is the very best of theatre from back home.
Duninsane closes Sunday at the Wallis Annenberg Theatre in Beverly Hills. Visit www.thewallis.org
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