Rajat Kapoor adapts Shakespeare tragedy Macbeth into comic play in Delhi

A satirical and comic theatrical adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, titled "Macbeth: What’s Done Is Done", has been staged in Delhi. Directed and adapted by Rajat Kapoor, the production reimagines the dark classic by incorporating slapstick comedy and clowning while maintaining the core themes of ambition, guilt, and moral decay.

The production features actor Ranvir Shorey in the lead role of Macky B. Shorey portrays the character's transformation from a once-loyal servant of the king of Scotland into a ruthless, immoral usurper. The performance charts Macky B's journey as a nobleman who becomes entirely consumed by greed and guilt.

In a departure from Shakespeare's original play, which opens with three mysterious witches to set an eerie tone, Kapoor’s version replaces them with two neat, white-faced clowns named Julio and Pedro. These characters present themselves as the producers of a metaplay, inviting the audience into the absurd world of Macky B and his Lady through a play-within-a-play format.

The two comic characters, Julio and Pedro, deftly weave parallel narratives into a compelling tale. Through this device, they introduce wit and humor into the otherwise somber classic, which is traditionally centered on the heavy themes of regicide, betrayal, and tyranny.

Despite the significant tonal shift in Kapoor’s reimagining, the protagonist's psychological unravelling remains firmly at the heart of the story. Macky B’s fall from grace begins when he and his friend Banquo encounter the three witches, referred to as the "weird sisters," in the forest. Their prophecies plant the seed of ambition in his mind, luring him towards his tragic fate.

The adaptation successfully balances the slapstick comedy of the clowns with the tragic elements of Shakespeare's original narrative, offering a unique theatrical experience for audiences in Delhi.