Macbeth - "If it were done when 'tis done" 

This was amazing! We have a presentation in class tomorrow and this helped me a lot (I'm doing the same soliloquy), the tone and expression is just fantastic and different from most other screen actors.

Probably the best version I have ever heard because you really capture the journey from 'I'm going to do it' to 'I'm not going to do it'! One of the characteristics of Maccers his that he's not a thinker, he's a warrior so when I do this speech I make it sound as if the these ideas are popping into his head on the hoof. He's no Richard III so he really does stumble through the play, with no social or strategic skill!

You kick ass man!! I got a bomb diggity A+ in class for my performance and I owe it all to you!! Sorry I stole your accent but I killed it!!!

Thanks for the wonderful feedback, everyone. I'm really happy that this is helping some of you with your classes/assignments/scene-work. Spread the Shakespeare lurve! :o)

I love this reading! It really sounds like your Macbeth is trying to convince himself of something

This is a wonderful presentation of this soliloquy. The pacing is perfect for displaying Macbeth's dilemma. I use it with my high school students and helps them to comprehend the language and weight of the scene.

Very useful basis for my acting on the soliloquy. Thanks!

Holy crap. Best version I've seen yet. I need to do this for school and needed to find a version to listen to repeatedly to get the lines in my head. I think I may have just found it! Thanks very much for this. I hope you're an actor that plays on stage often, your talent needs to be put to use.

This piece has helped me tremendously! I often come back to this monologue to revise and everytime I listen to see your performance, I learn something fresh and new! This and of course, the Grrrrrrrrrreat, Sir Ian McKellen! Thank You

dude youre about to help me pass my english class. like a boss thanks bro

Thank you for your kind words. As to your observation/criticism... the rationale was to underline the fact that despite his great respect for his king, he still covets that "great office"; particularly since in feudal Scotland, being the King's son did not necessarily mean that you would ascend the throne - after Macbeth's battlefield triumph, Malcolm's ascendancy was likely a genuine shock. It also underlines the fact that Macbeth will, ultimately, be very easily led by his wife.

Brilliant! You captured this pivotal moment with such disciplined elegance. Really, well done.

Wow, this is better than some actors i've seen recite this. Such a great voice too.

I am not qualified to judge your act at all, but I liked how serious you were when speaking to us. Your eyes showed little emotion which is what I believe worked so well for this part. Thank you.

You are my favorite interpretation of Macbeth. WELL DONE

Nice one Dave! Really liked it, mate!

I just learned about you today. I wish more actors in blockbusters had this depth.

I enjoyed this - you have a lovely range

A really compelling take on this soliloquy. Using it with high school seniors. Well done!

Nice video I’m trying to get this down pack in a couple weeks for my audition at Purchase College

Thank you for the comments. They are much appreciated. :o)

Holy smokes that was good. Excellent interpretation. Ideas I didn't even think of. I'm doing this speech for a provincial competition and I'm thinking of using this as a outline for mine.

Very much appreciated. Going to go leagues in assisting me with my monologue tomorrow! Great one chap!

Thank you so much I am in grade 8 and I managed to get one hundred percent for this monologue and I now have to do it infront of the whole school, parents etc. Thank you so much :)

I'm wondering whether Shakespeare put the word-pair "surcease success" for a certain reason, that nobody has grasped.

VERY well done- I think this brings out the incredible conflict in Macbeth, and the stakes could not be raised higher. :D

Your voice is absoluetely amazing. Your acting as well. Would love to see more of this.

This is excellent! Not only did you nail and masterfully inflect almost every one of Macbeth's beats and internal decisions through your voice/facial expressions, you did it in a manner that flowed beautifully! If I may offer some criticism: I am confused why you chose to accentuate "great office" in such a manner, it almost appears sarcastic when the reality is that he truly respects Duncan and does not want to commit the deed. Great work all-in-all, though!

Am going to steal from you for my upcoming audition. Love the emphatic "great office." Well done.

You're right, and there's a very good reason I didn't... all of the punctuation in Shakespeare has been added by editors after the fact. Shakespeare's actual punctuation is unknown. Where one edition/editor uses a comma, another uses a full stop; where one uses brackets, another uses a semi-colon; where one uses an exclamation point, another uses a question mark, etc. Is Lady M.'s line, "We fail", a question or a statement? It depends on the edition/editor. I play whatever makes sense for me.

I thought this was absolutely lovely. I look forward to seeing you on stage!

This was brilliant 👏

Thank you, Sir!!!

It's is helped me like wow sir .... It is really good tnku

well done man, I open my Macbeth in three weeks. We're rooting for you, as I hope you are rooting for us. . . . If it were done :) - Post5 Theatre

Amazing

your so good man :) im at john curtin (college) learning this monologue amazing

I have to say this over a voice clip for an assignment for English over the internet.. THANK YOU for this :) hahah it helped. coppied it

Pretty cool read David, I am doing this for class and also working on it as a monologue for myself. If I may say so I like your take in general though some feedback is due - some of the pauses seem a bit overdramatic and artificial. This should flow a little bit smoother I think. I wouldn't agree with Austin below. I wouldn't characterize it as a lot of dead air. you hear that Austin!!

great performance

Thanks!

Great screen acting, you wouldn't normally look at the camera when doing a monologue (especially on film) but that's me being very picky. I like what you did with it, I also performed this monologue for audition and I've been very successful in doing so. Great artwork.

Whilst most of the comments are drama students. I am here because I've just gone through a tremendous soul tearing breakup, and I had to pull the trigger on my beloved, who, beating on my door to open and asking for forgivenss, for one more chance, brought me to my knees with bitterness, regert and sadness for beauty lost. I could not for one second look back for fear of being forever entangled in the beauty and toxicness of the relationship which might ultimately drown us both. I had to be strong for both of us. IF IT WERE DONE WHEN 'TIS DONE, THEN 'TWERE WELL IT WERE DONE QUICKLY! ARGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

but what about the verse!

Nice work, Dave! I would like to use your video for an analysis for English class but I need to write your full name. What is your last name?

Badass.

Pov class packet

Thank you! :)

Great

awesome

how i hope i can be as good as you XD although i think the pauses are too long Thanks Though

well done. Bravo

Congratulations! :o)

intense

2:00

How do actors memorize all that stuff?? I'm a Physician; I'll never understand. I'll walk up to some Producer: "I demand you give ME the lead for this motion picture! It's like movie stars...they make all the Money, they get the Hottest CHICKS...and, they never had to kiss anyone's @$$-or something." There's a little bit of Butthead in us All.

Argebus!!!!!

I thought you were brilliant 👏

A lot of dead air. Act on the words not the thought.

I find this an affected and inexpressive delivery. He is a warrior, racked with doubt, weighing the horrors of a terrible act. Moreover the actor falls into the usual trap of declaiming the first line - "If it were done..." as if it makes sense, which it patently does not. "When 'tis done" then it will have been done - no "if"s about it. So did Shakespeare write nonsense? No. It is made nonsense by nearly every actor you can reference. Answers if you have any as brief as possible, please. 😁