Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Directed by Jordan Best. Lakespeare/The Q. Various locations Feb 12 - Mar 1 - see www.lakespeare.com

This is a tightly done  Shakespeare that survives the open air, the wheeling crying birds at sunset and the coming of night. (If you look at the performance schedule you’ll find both indoor and outdoor performances.) Outside specialists Lakespeare have joined forces with director Jordan Best and The Q for this year’s show and it’s a sharp version with clarity and drive. 

There’s a Macbeth (Isaac Reilly) and a Lady Macbeth (Lainie Hart) who are lean and hungry for the power they think a bit of murder will gain them. How their certainties are undone is the fascination.  Reilly and Hart  nail the unravelling of a brisk marriage between two morally blind people with a degree of ruthlessness and a twist which I will not reveal. 

They are backed up in this well paced show by a small but flexible cast that  includes a couple of thanes who look as if they could actually wield weapons. Max Gambale’s Duncan has a good royal authority, Lachlan Ruffy’s Banquo has honesty, Caitlin Baker as Malcolm has a youthful directness that plays well and Paul Sweeney as Macduff  is moving in his grief and rage. Then there’s Jane Ahlquist as an authoritative Ross (but also splendid as a nasty goblin of a Porter) and Annabelle Hansen wonderfully disturbing as a terrified Lady Macduff.

The concept of the witches (Caitlin Baker, Annabelle Hansen and Paris Scharkie) who are veiled and horned and glide around unsettlingly underplays their presence in a way that is much more sinister than a bunch of cackling hags might be. 

Seeing this haunted play under cloudy skies  with its climax at sunset and the chance of some serendipitous performances by the local crows made for an unsettling show on opening night. This tight production of The Scottish Play will chill  no matter which of its season’s venues, indoor or outdoor, you see it in. 

Alanna Maclean