“A poetic, well-paced drama.”--Booklist
“An audacious achievement.”--Jennifer Lee Carrell, Ph.D. (Harvard)
New York Times Bestselling author of
Interred With Their Bones/The Shakespeare SecretThe first lines of Shakespeare I ever read were from "MacBeth" I was in the 3rd grade and we all had to memorize MacBeth's "Tomorrow and Tomorrow..." speech. I kept up my fascination over the years watching as many movie and stage versions as I could while attempting to forge my own interpretation of the text. In college I was an assistant director on the play and thanks to the long rehearsal process memorized a very large chunk of the script. I knew I was not alone in thinking of all the interpretations one could glean form such a script.
More than one play throughout the years has sought to use the works of William Shakespeare as inspiration for either new works or playful satires on the original ones. Usually this is done through comedy. Plays like "Rosencrantz and Guidenstern Are Dead" "I Hate Hamlet" "Dogg's Hamlet & Cahoot's MacBeth" "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged" and many more have found success in getting us to laugh at some of the most tragic moments in theater history. And yet there is a small number of other works who seek to faithfully continue plays in which there seems to be more story to tell. While buying a copy of Dorothy Dunnett's novel "King Hereafter" (which retells real events in the life the actual MacBeth), I stumbled upon a play which (despite its unfortunately slightly cheesy title) grabbed my attention. I ordered it as soon as I had the money! It needs to be reminded that the full title of the original is "The Tragedy of MacBeth King of Scotland" This helps put the sequel's title in a brighter light.
The thinking behind such an undertaking in remarkably solid. Though the promise of becoming King pushes MacBeth to murder near the start of Shakespeare's play, it is another prophecy that pushed him though the rest of the play: that MacBeth will have no lineage, that the crown will live on through his comrade Banquo's descendants starting with Banquo's son Fleance. MacBeth's frantic and fruitless efforts to prevent such a future bring about his moral decay and death. The play, however does not end with Fleance on the throne, but rather with Malcolm, eldest son of the murdered king. The prophecy still stands that a new line of kings will start with Fleance and so Malcolm's legitimately held throne is no less secure than MacBeth's was.
Lukeman's play picks up 10 years later. King Malcolm has never married and his fear over losing his family's throne is forcing him into desperation. A major story line deals with his brother Donalbain. Donalbain is another unanswered question from Shakespeare's work. After their father King Duncan is murdered, he and Malcolm both flee for safety. Malcolm returns and as eldest son avenges his father and retakes the crown, but there is no mention of Donalbain again. We know he flees to Ireland but nothing more. Like Malcolm had years before, Donalbain has found sanctuary and a friendly army to keep his place as heir secure. But now this could be viewed as a threat to Malcolm, just as Malcolm and his English army threatened and overcame MacBeth. Malcolm also has a tenuous relationship with MacDuff, his previous savior and has become obsessed with the prophecy of the "three weird sisters" This, added to his lack of children, has turned Malcolm into a king on the brink of both sanity and power. The as of yet unfulfilled prohecy of Banquo is still waiting to take control.
With my eternal promise of "no spoilers" I will end the summary there. There are many morI highly recommend those who have a good knowledge of MacBeth to give Lukeman's play a try. A link below will direct you to the author's website where you can read the play's introduction and first three scenes for free. Lukeman, a language expert, know his Shakespeare both theatrically and linguistically. He has made a true effort to continue Shakespeare's play in a thoughtful way that never attempts to improve or negate its origins. His Shakespearean dialogue flows, simultaneously reminding us of Shakespeare while never attempted to be of the same caliber. It is simply written in the same style as Shakespeare, the same style countless other writers have used as well. His plot is solid and "reaches" in ways similar to the original and there is more one twist that raised my eyebrows.
Purist will ask, "Should Lukeman have attempted such a thing?" Perhaps not, but he has done so and not only is it interesting, it just might be worthy as well.
Rating: A-
For more information and to read the introduction and first 3 scenes please visit:
http://www.lukeman.com/macbeth2/index.htm