Theatre Review

Riveting ‘Julius Caesar’ at Trinity

Don Fowler
Posted 9/17/15

Holy Caesar’s Ghost! A woman playing “Julius Caesar!”

The great thing about Tyler Dobrowsky’s direction of the Shakespeare classic is that the characterization feels right. It doesn’t …

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Theatre Review

Riveting ‘Julius Caesar’ at Trinity

Posted

Holy Caesar’s Ghost! A woman playing “Julius Caesar!”

The great thing about Tyler Dobrowsky’s direction of the Shakespeare classic is that the characterization feels right. It doesn’t come across as a theatrical gimmick.

You don’t even have to think Hillary. There are many contemporary women in political leadership roles these days, and the story becomes even stronger when you look at the violent, subversive men who are trying to overthrow their Roman leader, be it male or female.

Dobrowsky holds true to Shakespeare while making the play contemporary. The politicians are in suits and ties and the military are in uniform. There are no guns or cell phones. Honor (or rather dishonor) is a major issue, along with ambition, jealousy and violence. There is clever use of a TV camera, however.

Having studied Shakespeare in college and seen most of his plays more than once, I noticed for the first time how most of the titled characters (Hamlet, Macbeth, Lear, Othello and many of the kings) are on stage most of the time. In “Julius Caesar,” the main character spends much of the time off stage, or dead, but still remaining the main character, being the sole subject of conversation.

Anne Scurria makes a perfect Caesar. She is strong, while being tempted by her conniving senators. She is vain, especially when lured to the senate by the promise of a crown. She loves Calpurnius (not Calpurnia) her spouse, played emotionally by Mauro Hantman.

Stephen Thorne is the perfect Brutus, convinced that “It is not that I love Caesar less, it is that I love Rome more.” Thorne plays Brutus as a conflicted man who truly believes that Caesar must die for her ambition.

I remember having to memorize the “Friends, Romans, Countrymen” speech in college and murdering it, as many amateur actors have over the years. Joe Wilson Jr. gets it right, his passion and emotion. His love for Caesar and hatred for all the “honorable men” trying to bring her down all come through in one of the most famous soliloquies in all of Shakespeare. Wilson’s portrayal of Marc Antony is his finest hour.

This is a huge production, with many fine performances by the veterans and young conservatory students.

Set designer Michael McGarty has given us a bare-boned set: brick wall, steel stanchions and little else. Four chamber musicians sit on the second level, setting the tone with a somber overture and filling in spaces between scenes. Olivera Gajic’s costumes are right on.

There’s a lot of dialogue, especially in the first act. Just before intermission the action picks and continues in the second act. Blood is spilled, and if you’re in the first row you are warned that some may end up on you.

While “Julius Caesar has not been my favorite Shakespearean play, seeing the tragedy done right by actors and directors who get it made it much more palatable and enjoyable for me.

If you want to see how a classic play should be done, get over to Trinity during the run, which closes October 11. Call 351-4242 for reservations.

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