Hubble bubble toil and trouble, mustard seed, bulbous buttercup and holly leaves.

Let's be honest, it doesn't have the same ring, does it?

I was today years old when I learned Shakespeare's Weird Sisters weren't really boiling eye of newt, toe of frog, wool of bat and tongue of dog. My long-delayed education came courtesy of Ad Lib Theatre's Macbeth, which was on stage at Bembridge Village Hall, from November 24-26.

In this performance, this classic tragedy (in other words, don't get attached to any of the characters) was catapulted into the modern day. Cue tech-savvy witches brandishing mobile phones and laptops, and an internet wish list of cauldron contents.

Isle of Wight County Press: Clockwise from left, Ad Lib Theatre's Joel Leverton as Banquo, Simon Lynch as Macbeth, Emily Scotcher as Lady Macbeth and Patrick Barry as Macduff.Clockwise from left, Ad Lib Theatre's Joel Leverton as Banquo, Simon Lynch as Macbeth, Emily Scotcher as Lady Macbeth and Patrick Barry as Macduff. (Image: Ad Lib Theatre.)

Shakespeare stalwart Emily Scotcher delivered the goods as Lady Macbeth, providing the kindling for the fire of Simon Lynch's power-crazed, murderous Macbeth, whose own ambition quickly overcame his wife's.

The lead's speeches to the audience, bathed in a spotlight, slowly descending into madness, were effective.

Credit also to the caught-in-the-middle Banquo, played by Joel Leverton, who was convincing as Macbeth's double-crossed friend-with-nuances.

His silent, bloodied, posthumous return provided a sobering juxtaposition to an off-script moment, in which MacDuff's youngest child danced and waved to the audience (moments before his mother and sister's untimely and brutal demise).

Isle of Wight County Press: Bembridge Village Hall staged Macbeth.Bembridge Village Hall staged Macbeth. (Image: IWCP)

Karl Whitmore's numerous appearances on stage were always entertaining and very much in the traditional Shakespearian style - just the tonic.

Timeless words transcend the passage of time. For me, this performance's win was in the amateur actors sharing this near 420-year-old classic with an audience that spanned the generations, including children who still study Macbeth as part of their English Literature GCSE. 

The best way to understand The Bard's work is to see it live (without too many whistles and bells). This is all too rare on the Isle of Wight, and Ad Lib Theatre's Macbeth went a good way to rectify that.

Let's hope there's more to-morrow and to-morrow and to-morrow.