Who's to Blame Here?

"There was a time," sings Annie Lennox, "that we used to say that behind every great man there  had to be a great woman. . . ."

Critics have been arguing back and forth about who's to blame for the evil in Macbeth.  Are the witches responsible for reeking havoc on the House of Cawdor?  Did Lady Macbeth lead her docile, vulnerable man into temptation and then unleash his furor on the kingdom of Scotland?

Michael Basile, who plays Macbeth in the ASC's production of the play that bears his name, says that the Lady spurs him on until he has actually killed Duncan, and then he takes the wheel of the machine that is careening out of his own control.

It's a question for the ages. See the play, watch Denise Hurd as the Lady, and then weigh in for yourself.

                                                     Denise Hurd in rehearsal as Lady Macbeth