Edinburgh Fringe 2024
MacPlebs
The Raymondos
Genre: Comedy, New Writing, Theatre
Venue: The Space on the Mile
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
MacPlebs is a brilliantly executed comedic take on Macbeth, where two bumbling messengers hilariously attempt to perform the play despite never having read it. With quick-fire costume changes, slapstick humour, and lively songs, this chaotic and delightful show shines thanks to the impeccable chemistry and comedic talent of the two performers.
Review
The premise is simple yet brilliantly executed. With the original cast stranded due to a tram-related mishap, two messengers, the “plebs”, are left with the daunting task of performing Macbeth to the assembled audience. The only problem? They haven’t actually read the play. Armed with nothing more than a suitcase full of props and costumes, and a hefty dose of misplaced confidence, these two take on the challenge of telling Shakespeare’s dark tale in their own unique, hilariously inept way.
What makes MacPlebs truly special is the chemistry and comedic talent of the two performers, known as The Raymondos. This experienced duo brings a whirlwind of energy and impeccable timing to the stage, with quick-fire costume changes, slapstick humour, and a series of cleverly written gags that keep the audience fully engaged, laughing, and clapping along. The duo’s interpretation of the three witches, portrayed by only two actors, sets the tone for the rest of the performance: chaotic, silly, and utterly delightful.
But beneath the layers of absurdity, there are moments of genuine cleverness. MacPlebs doesn’t shy away from referencing the original Macbeth, but it does so in a way that feels fresh and accessible, even to those unfamiliar with Shakespeare. The nods to iconic speeches, delivered with passion and aplomb, are subtle yet effective, woven seamlessly into the fabric of the performance. And while the play is packed with non-stop humour, the addition of lively songs and music helps to elevate and enrich the performance further. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s bawdy number “Awooga” is just one of the many highlights that blends comedy with a catchy tune, leaving the audience humming, singing and laughing long after the final curtain.
It’s also important to give full credit to the technical team behind the show. The sound and light technician plays a crucial role in maintaining the show’s pace and ensuring that every joke lands perfectly. The coordination between the actors and the technical team is seamless, creating an experience that feels both polished and delightfully unpredictable.
The show echoes a tradition as old as the play itself, a time when oral storytelling was a popular form of entertainment in inns and taverns. Storytellers might recount well-known tales, including Shakespearean plots, for a small fee or a drink. You can easily imagine these two performers as a modern-day version of those storytellers, perhaps having snuck into a serious performance of Macbeth and now recounting the tale with all the chaos and humour they can muster, much to the delight of a rowdy crowd in one of Edinburgh’s cosy Old Town inns.
With MacPlebs, the tradition of oral storytelling and hilarious parody is alive and well, although only until the 17th of August, so grab a ticket while you can. In the theatre world, the original is famously the play that shall not be named, but I feel happy and safe to name and highly recommend this show
