Nth Macbeth roundup

First, Playbill interviews Liev Schreiber . My pick of the best bits (but it's all interesting):

...PLAYBILL.COM: What makes Macbeth the right role for you to perform now?
LS: For the Public Theater, it’s a wartime play. It’s something that is topical to people. I don’t know if I respond to things in an openly political way. I just think they’re planted in your subconscious. For me, what’s fascinating about the character is the war that he wages in his mind—the interior battle of morality and conscience. It’s good stuff.

PLAYBILL.COM: And how do you personally compare to Macbeth?
LS: Well, I’ve never killed anyone, so that’s kind of a leap for me. But I certainly identify with the same issues of conscience. We all have ambitions and anxieties that get in the way of our daily lives. I think that Macbeth’s are just all-consuming.
...
PLAYBILL.COM: What time period does the production take place in?
LS: Our director Moises Kaufman is playing with is a period that draws its influences from The Great War. Because we’re a nation at war now, he wanted to perhaps draw and compare on past wars.

PLAYBILL.COM: How does Kaufman compare to other directors with whom you have worked on Shakespeare?
LS: Moises has an incredible visual eye and he’s the kind of person who’s inspired and driven by images. That, I think, for me, has been the defining trait of his direction.
...
PLAYBILL.COM: Have any cuts or alterations been made to the text?
LS: We have made some cuts and some amendments of text for the purpose of clarity and brevity, but nothing too big. ...

Playbill also announces the opening of Macbeth. There's a (new?) photo of Mr Schreiber in uniform, plus the purple dress / bloody shirt one we've posted earlier.

Now to launch into the blogosphere, starting with general views on Macbeth. On the critical end, ringelmatz was disappointed. On the positive end, Manda finds the play awesome and creepy. Damielle recommends it too, saying that it's warmed her up to Shakespeare after years finding him tedious. Some of her commenters liked it as well. Wyatt says both the leads were excellent and the play makes him appreciate having a non-murderous wife. Matt Johnston, an actor who's worked with Liev Schreiber before, digs the "World War 2 timeframe" and ponders on the similarities between Macbeth and his character Travis.

Views on Ms Ehle's performance are mixed. Sasha, Robert and Carolyn aren't keen but the latter two like the staging. However, Limonene reckons she "nailed the quiet maliciousness and ruthlessness of Lady Macbeth (and wore pretty, pretty dresses)". Jira thought her especially remarkable.

Finally, for Spidey fans, the Spider-Man 3 teaser trailer is out. Can't see if Rosemary Harris is in it because of dialup.