Word: birnam
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...said Sun Tzu, the great 4th century B.C. Chinese strategist whose prize pupil turned out to be Mao Tse-tung. The Greeks understood that principle when they set sail from Troy, leaving behind only a large wooden horse. Macduff knew it when he disguised his soldiers with branches from Birnam Wood as they marched against Macbeth. In World War II, the Allies created a phantom First U.S. Army Group, outfitted with rubber tanks and canvas landing barges (courtesy of the Shepperton movie studios). Its swirl of fake radio messages about an impending invasion at Calais helped keep the entire German...
This technique works to good effect towards the end of the play, with paranoia lurking deep within Birnam Wood. Nothing can make up, however, for the dreariness of the first half; for despite Murphy's good intentions, this Macbeth is submerged--swords and a few actors not-withstanding--by its company...