Description

Alternative Macbeth Guided Reading Script plus lesson plan and detailed synopses of original and alternative scripts

This text is also available as part of a collection of four:

• Hamlet
• Macbeth
• Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Romeo & Juliet

• Other Shakespeare scripts

  • Shakespeare Guided Reading Play Scripts
  • Alternative Shakespeare Scripts (set of 4)
  • Macbeth Villain or Victim?
  • Romeo and Juliet in Love
  • Midsummer Nightmare alias Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • Midsummer Nightmare II alias Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • Valentines Play incl. “alternative” Romeo & Juliet
  • Alternative Midsummer Night’s Dream Script plus lesson plan
  • Midsummer Nightmare III alias Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • Alternative Hamlet Script plus lesson plan
  • Alternative Macbeth Script plus lesson plan
  • Romeo & Juliet Valentines Play

This is a conversational piece between 6 speakers

Alternative Macbeth Guided Reading Script Sample Text

Speakers:

• Macbeth
• Lady Macbeth
• King Duncan
• Banquo
• Macduff
• Narrator

Narrator:                     So, the real story. I am so, so sorry you had to go through all this …

Macbeth:                     (Philosophically) Ah well, these things are sent to try us ..

Narrator:                     You will, of course, need a great deal more counselling to help you

Duncan:                       (Interrupting) Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Am I hearing this right?

Banquo:                       I was beginning to think it was just me who had a hearing problem!

Macduff:                     (To narrator) Are you seriously telling us it is Macbeth that needs counselling?

Lady Macbeth:            Well, I’ve heard it all now!

Macbeth:                     But it was you that made me … lose it!

Lady Macbeth:            Typical male response! Always blaming the women!

Narrator:                     But you were largely to blame – you and those awful old crones. It doesn’t bear thinking about what this poor man had to go through!

Duncan:                       (Incredulously) Are you serious? Aren’t you missing one or two small details here? Like, who murdered who? I was his first victim.

Banquo:                       And I his second.

Macduff:                     And what about my family? Mercilessly put to death, in my absence!

Duncan:                       (To narrator) So before you go misplacing any more of your sympathy, take another look at the plot, brother!

Narrator:                     Which is exactly what I’ve done. And I have come to the conclusion that poor Macbeth here ..

Lady Macbeth:            (Interrupting) Poor Macbeth?

Narrator:                     Please, let me finish. You have a lot to answer for, my lady!

Macbeth:                     Indeed she does! I would never have carried out those foul deeds ..

Duncan:                       (Interrupting) Ah! An admission!

Narrator:                     Let the poor man finish!

Macbeth:                     I would never have entertained such foul desires if it hadn’t been for …                                         the missus!

Banquo:                       Unbelievable!

Macduff:                     What? That you were best friend to this poor excuse for a man, all those years?

Banquo:                       Indeed! If I had had so much as an inkling that he was such a pathetic, spineless character ..

Macbeth:                     Steady! What about all those acts of valour and bravery on the battlefield?

Banquo:                       A pity you didn’t hold onto one ounce of backbone – in your own castle!

Duncan:                       I’ve never come across a worse case of ….henpecking!

Macduff:                     That Lady Macbeth sure wore the trousers in his household!

Narrator:                     Which is just the point I’m making!

Lady Macbeth:            So you would place all the blame on my shoulders?

Narrator:                     Absolutely! With the kind of stranglehold you had on your husband, he had absolutely no choice!

Macbeth:                     Ah! Justice at last! And to think I have been painted the villain – for all these years!