Shakespeare Retold: Macbeth

In the Shakespeare Retold series put on the BBC, Shakespeare’s plays are modernized and retold in an imaginative manner.

1. The play starts with three garbage collectors (called “binmen” for garbage bins). They are mystical in some ways. They are the three witches of the story. They are able to tell the future.

Joe Macbeth

2. James Mcavoy plays Macbeth. But, in this version, he is Joe Macbeth and is often referred to as Joe.

Duncan

3. The man on the TV hosting a cooking show is Duncan, the “king” of the restaurant. He owns the restaurant that Joe works at.

Ella Macbeth

4. Joe Macbeth’s wife is named Ella. In Shakespeare’s version, she is Lady Macbeth (of course).

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5. In really high class restaurant’s, they take enormous pride in the food they prepare and serve. This is just a little background information on why Macbeth is so obsessed with his job.

Malcolm

6. Bandana boy is Malcolm. He is the son of Duncan. He should inherit the restaurant.

7. “Like Gordon Ramsay?” “We like to call him the Scottish chef.” This is a sly reference to the superstition that surrounds the play Macbeth. Many actors believe that if you say the name “Macbeth” something seriously bad will happen. So, even famous actors like Ian McKellen (who played Macbeth, Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, and Magneto in X-Men) refuses to say the name. They instead refer to the play as the “Scottish play.”

8. Duncan arrives just in time to meet some high profile guests. Apparently, although Joe does all the hard work, he gets the public credit for the cooking.

Billy Banquo

9. Joe’s drinking buddy and fellow chef is Billy Banquo. In Shakespeare’s version, he’s simply Banquo. He’s Macbeth’s best friend and fellow fighter. Notice that Joe always dresses in white while Billy always dresses in black.

2 10. [Joe and Billy nearly get squished between a garbage truck and a garbage bin.] Joe: What are you doing? You could of killed us! Garbage Witch: That’s your job Macbeth. Joe: How do you know my name? Garbage Witches: We know everything. We’re bin-men. There’s nothing we don’t know.

These Garbage Witches (binmen) make three prophecies. The first is that Joe’s restaurant will receive three stars (which in England is the best rating possible). The second is that the restaurant will be Joe’s in the future. The third is that Billy will be “less happier than Joe, but yet more happy.” The bin-men then specify that Billy won’t get anything, but Billy’s son will get everything.

Peter Macduff

11. The head waiter is Peter Macduff. He will be Macbeth’s enemy. In Shakespeare’s play, he is simply called Macduff.

12. Ella Macbeth and Joe Macbeth talk about how it’s unfair that Duncan receives all the glory for Macbeth’s hard work and how Malcolm shouldn’t be the one who simply inherits the restaurant. Do you identify with their jealousy? Do you think they’re justified in feeling this way?

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