Cahoot's Macbeth Summary

In the living room of an artist's apartment in Communist-occupied Czechoslovakia, a group of actors is performing Shakespeare's Macbeth for their friends. The government outlaws public performances.

The apartment is bugged, and the performance of Macbeth triggers a visit from the Inspector. In the middle of the production, right after Macbeth tells his wife he has murdered the king, police sirens and car doors' slamming are heard outside the apartment. The knocking in the play coincides with the Inspector's knock at the door.

The Inspector begins to interrogate the hostess and cast and orders the audience not to leave. The hostess protests that this is her home, and the actors and audience are her guests. The Inspector sits down to watch the play, threatening arrest if the actors do not proceed, and so the play continues.

When Macbeth is crowned king...