Macbeth has been performed by many different groups and companies over the years, as it is perhaps one of the most powerful political statements in Western theater and perhaps one of Shakespeare's best scripts. Although the PBS and RSC versions of the play have many differences, they remain brilliant interpretations of the play. Through excellent acting as well as sets and sound effects, they transport us into the play, giving the characters the life and raw emotion essential to theater. Even though the two plays differ in many ways, they remain incredibly similar in that they keep Macbeth as the main character, have a hierarchy, and most importantly, keep the plot the same as the original script by way of solemn tribute to Shakespeare. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The 2010 variation of Macbeth is set in a surrogate story, with Scotland poised for battle. The era and age could be anywhere between the 1940s and the 1950s. Many quick releases appeared from howitzers and other vast weapons of war. Large numbers of soldiers march in huge central squares, like scenes from Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia. This version of the play also retains the speech of a traditional Shakespearean play. Because of this, the playback/movie has a very long runtime. This film was formulated to give a play based in Shakespeare's era a modernist approach and point of view. The blending of past and present in this film was done in an interesting way. Even in the first two scenes, the characters' language and actions depict Shakespeare as opposed to how they would have spoken or acted in that era. Some of the film's effects added to the suspense, effect, and drama of the piece, but they also sometimes distracted from the language because it was distracting. Another change in the play that differs from the original version would be that instead of the three witches being witches, they are instead depicted as evil nurses. As for the RSC version of the play, only 100 people saw this rendition at first. A limited amount of money was spent on props, costumes and sets. Due to the lack of funds spent on costumes, props, etc., there was more money and time to focus on the actors. There was a very select cast, many of them playing multiple roles due to the short cast list. The weapons used in this performance were from Shakespeare's time, showing that the play is being performed in Shakespeare's time. The background and setting are dark, gloomy and smoky with a relative spotlight on the actors, strictly drawing the eye directly to them. The characters themselves are incredibly dramatic with their booming voices and their acting so diverse and artistic that it drew the audience into the room. The actors worked very well together, practically in a circle, each taking advantage of their fellow actor's genius and using it to appear more magnanimous and incredible. In both plays, fear was present in the audience during certain scenes because they were so dramatic and intense that it was as if we were there. During the performances, there was also a feeling of constraint. This made it seem like the actors were constantly holding their raw emotions inside; this was done masterfully because, in Macbeth, everything.