Macbeth is a classic play by William Shakespeare, published in 1623 but first performed earlier in the 1600s. Inspired by historical accounts of an actual Scottish king by the name, Shakespeare's version is drenched in the supernatural and a favorite Shakespearean theme, ambition resulting in murder and intrigue.
After three witches predict he will become king of Scotland, Macbeth is urged by his wife Lady Macbeth (one of the most substantial female roles in Shakespeare) to fulfill the prophecy and murder the current king. The event leads to more murders, ominous portents, and even the strongwilled Lady Macbeth succumbs to visions of blood on her hands.
References[]
- The Count loses his thunder in Sesame Street Episode 0974. To get it back, he tries using a magic spell (from a book borrowed from The Amazing Mumford). The ingredients include eye of newt and toe of frog, which were part of the three witches' brew in Macbeth.
- In a sketch, Grover tries to tell the story of "The Cursed Prince". It comes to a chaotic end when the prince turns into Kermit the Frog. Gladys the Cow appears, thinking she can play a frog. When Grover mentions a witch was supposed to show up, Gladys shifts gears, reciting the witches' chant: "Double double, toil and trouble/fire burn and cauldron bubble."
- Kermit tries to entice Miss Piggy for a "special spot" in episode 202 of The Muppet Show, saying it requires an actress with tremendous strength, versatility, and femininity. After Joan of Arc and Naughty Marietta are proven wrong, Piggy guesses the part is Lady Macbeth, only to be told it's "more like a lady wrestler."
- Linda rehearses her lines for a play, via sign language to herself, in Episode 1217. The script specifies that she be "signing dramatically.. melodramatically... Lady Macbeth or something such as that."
- Eye of newt is invoked again by a Fairy Godmother in Episode 3067: "Eye of newt and octopus nose/make our Maria some lovely new clothes."
- The Big Bag episode "Win, Lose or Draw" begins with Chelli cleaning a pair of spoons and exclaiming "Out, darn spot," a softer rephrasing of a Lady Macbeth line, "Out, damned spot!"
- In the Elmo's World episode, "Pets," a parrot recites Shakespeare on the Pets Channel, at one point shouting at a dog, "Out, out Spot!"
- The pitch documents for a proposed Furry Arms series includes well-known quotes from assorted famous individuals, repurposed as their reactions to staying at the titular hotel. Macbeth himself is quoted: "Full of sound and fury..."
- In the 2002 book What's in Oscar's Trash Can?, Oscar's bookcase contains a copy of Macgrouch.
- In the "Muppet Masters" segment in the Muppets Now episode "The I.T. Factor," a poster is shown for Macbeth (starring and directed by Uncle Deadly at The Muppet Theater).
Connections[]
- F. Murray Abraham played Macbeth in the 1986 Broadway production
- John Baddeley played Lennox in the Shakespeare: The Animated Tales version (TV, 1992)
- Graham Brown played Duncan and Siward in the 1999 off-Broadway production
- Coral Browne played Lady Macbeth in the 1956 Broadway production
- Ty Burrell played Lennox in the 2000 Broadway production
- Reg E. Cathey played a lord and a gentleman in the 1989 off-Broadway production and Banquo, the porter, and the doctor in the 1999 off-Broadway production
- Brian Cox played Macbeth in the Shakespeare: The Animated Tales version (TV, 1992)
- Matt Doran played Malcolm in the 2006 film
- Charles Durning played the porter and Seyton in the 1962 off-Broadway production
- John Glover played one of the witches, the porter, and the third murderer in the 2013 Broadway production
- Kelsey Grammer played Lennox in the 1981 Broadway production and Macbeth in the 2000 Broadway production
- Ethan Hawke played Macbeth in the 2013 Broadway production
- Michael Hordern played Macbeth in a 1956 BBC Radio production and Banquo in the 1960 film
- Rel Hunt played Angus in the 2006 film
- Ralph Ineson played Barry in the ShakespeaRe-Told version (TV, 2005) and Duncan's captain in The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021 film)
- Dana Ivey played one of the witches, a gentlewoman, and a lady in the 1981 Broadway production
- Glenda Jackson played Lady Macbeth in the 1988 Broadway production
- James Earl Jones played Macbeth in the 1966 Joseph Papp mobile theatre production
- Raúl Juliá played Macduff in the 1966 Joseph Papp mobile theatre productions (both English and Spanish) and Macbeth off-Broadway in 1989
- T.R. Knight played Donalbain and a messenger in the 1999 off-Broadway production
- Gonzalo Madurga played Banquo and Menteith in the 1966 Joseph Papp Spanish mobile theatre production
- James McAvoy played Joe Macbeth in the ShakespeaRe-Told version (TV, 2005)
- Frances McDormand played Lady Macbeth and produced The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021 film)
- Jonny Pasvolsky played Lennox in the 2006 film
- Stephen Root played the porter in The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021 film)
- Liev Schreiber played Banquo and Seyton in the 1999 off-Broadway production and Macbeth in the 2006 off-Broadway production
- Paul Scofield played Macbeth in a 1966 BBC Radio production
- Nicholas Selby played Duncan in the 1971 film
- Patrick Stewart played Macbeth in a 2007 Royal Shakespeare Company production, the 2008 Broadway production, and a 2010 TV version
- David Tennant played Macbeth in a 2022 BBC Radio production
- Zoë Wanamaker played Lady Macbeth in the Shakespeare: The Animated Tales version (TV, 1992)
- Denzel Washington played Macbeth in The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021 film)
- Orson Welles adapted and directed a 1938 Broadway version and directed, wrote the screenplay, and played the title role in the 1948 film