"Julius Caesar" - A Review

    “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.”

    I have no idea which Shakespeare play has the most “quotes we all recognize” - but certainly Julius Caesar must be near the top of the list.

   But while the quotes may be familiar, the setting for this ARTS production at Huntington’s Renaissance Theatre is anything but. 

   The story covers events from 44 BC, as the Roman dictator faces a deadly conspiracy by a group of senators - including his (former) friends and allies. The events have been re-imagined into a modern setting, but the political and moral struggle - and the language - make the jump unchanged.

   It’s a tribute to the lasting power of Shakespeare’s work that it the story is just as powerful in today’s political setting as it is in the halls of the Roman Senate.

   The key to the success of any community theatre production, however, lies in the hands of its actors, and this show is blessed with a terrific, talented cast.

“Et tu, Brute?”

   The lead role actually belongs to Brutus, the senator who is a friend of Caesar’s, but who is convinced that, in order to save Rome, he must join with the conspirators who plot a brutal end to Caesar’s reign. Brutus is brought to life by the immensely talented Owen Reynolds, who manages to capture the passion and spirit of the character and make him viable and even likable, despite his role in the betrayal of Caesar.

   The play revolves around the title character, of course, and Barry Dailey has a commanding presence in the role of Caesar. Politicians have a specific air about them, and it’s not an easy attitude to adopt - but he presents it in spades. He’s powerful and commanding but never slips into a cartoonish portrayal - and he makes the assassination sequence brutal and believable.

 “I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.”

   Leading the opposition to the conspirators is Marc Anthony, played by Len Trent - and he creates a stunning, moving portrayal of a man who must tread carefully, but who uses his intellect and the power of his voice to sway the people of Rome into turning against the conspirators.

   But the show doesn’t rest solely on the leads - the supporting cast does outstanding work, as well. In a cast of dozens, from the “Bag Lady” version of the Soothsayer (Sarah Diamond Burroway) to suffering wives Calpurnia (Amy Carlson) and Portia (Joanna Berner), there are no weak links - there are so many key figures and important scenes to deliver, and the cast does so with great skill and emotional fervor.

“Beware the Ides of March.”

   The set is an interesting combination of minimalism (it’s virtually colorless), with a focus on the ingenious use of six large flat-screen TVs. It gives the set dimension and depth and helps bring some of the story’s unique scenes to life. It also gives a different perspective on the action, as a roaming camera takes the audience up close and personal to the actors.

   It’s a tricky bit of business, incorporating that kind of tech into a show, and it would be easy for it to upstage the actors - but the use is carefully managed and avoids that pitfall. I wasn’t sure I was going to like the use of the monitors, but I thought it was very effective and managed for maximum effect.

   The struggle with Shakespeare is to make the stories written 600 years ago understandable and accessible to modern audiences. Some of that is achieved by editing the play down a bit - this version clocks in at a touch over two hours - but the best conduit it to put it in the hands of capable actors who deliver their dialogue with passion and clarity.

   Thanks to the outstanding cast, you’ll find exactly that. It’s a delight to hear the amazing wordplay brought to life. 

“Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!”

   Kudos to director Michael Murdock for his inventive direction and vision for this production, both in terms of tech design and for his spot-on casting choices, and for getting terrific performances of out of his talented cast.

   With this play and the recent production of MacBeth, ARTS has established its reputation as a home for serious, professional-quality theatre productions - something any fan of theatre should be delighted to see. 

   Highly, highly recommended!