Ross

This play has been written and directed by Jeff Moule and is premiered by Belper Players following his four previous collaborations with them. It is based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth but Jeff decided to write this alternative play making Ross the central character. In the original play, the Thane of Ross was the bringer of messages and the describing of events to the main characters so in fact, was very much in the ‘centre of things’. From this perspective, Jeff evolved his plot around the very aspirational Ross, making him the main protagonist, also making more prominent, the role of Lady Macbeth and, Ross and Lady Macbeth were lovers.

There was no set as such, the balcony at the Centre had been covered so as to resemble a castle battlement whilst the floor was an arrangement of 16 black and white squares. Good use was made of large black cubes. 

The title role of Ross was extremely well played by James Strath. His very wordy script was so effortlessly, efficiently and competently delivered. Beth Undy was superb as Lady Macbeth. She wonderfully and dramatically captured the obsessive determination in her belief that she should be Queen, to finally becoming so mentally and hysterically unstable that she eventually ‘fell’ from the battements - a great performance. Henry Stubbs was first rate as Sergeant, he was so natural in his delivery and the two Soldiers played by George Comber and Matthew Mellors were splendid. Freddy Levesley excelled as Fleance, the young son of Banquo. He was so self assured for one so young and his diction was spot on. The witches played by Jane Wilton, Mollie Middleton, Janet Allison and Tracey Wilkinson were so deliciously and delightfully ‘frightful’. They were depicted as traders, mainly in goods taken from dead bodies, as drug dealers and of course having the ability to cast spells. Their fantastic costumes and make up were just so outrageous, as was their behaviour - they were terrific and obviously enjoyed every moment! I thought the recollections of events by Porter were so brilliantly and humorously delivered by Michael Fletcher and the scene where he, the Gateman (Jeremy Crane), the Servant (John Briscoe) and the Maid (Sarah Holme) were gossiping about what had gone on elsewhere, was so full of anecdotes, opinions and mischief it was so perfectly and so naturally expressed. Good support came from Terry Stevenson (Angus), Nick Mothershaw (Menteith), Roger Whiting (Banquo) and Martin Drake (Lennox). Some scenes were quite harrowing but so well executed and the excellent sound and lighting effects added to their overall effectiveness. Music throughout was by Susan Stevenson and Mark Webster’s playing of the Bagpipes certainly added authenticity and ambiance to the setting. Costuming was modern in style with the exception of Lady Macbeth who wore several, most beautiful, medieval gowns. Jeff Moule certainly achieved his aim in setting out to devise a plot that would weave in and out of Shakespeare’s tale and see it in a different perspective. His hours of research and writing resulted in a very thought provoking and totally creative and innovative take on an established piece of play writing and his super-objective “Blame not witches, sprites or elves, the harm we do, we do ourselves” said by the witches at the end of the play, was definitely met. Many congratulations to everyone involved. 

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