Julius Caesar is an epic political drama full of betrayal, and I’ve always thought of it as one of Shakespeare’s most masculine plays. But the all-female cast of J Caesar showed that ladies can have just as much fun with the story.
This incredibly talented cast managed to convey the basics of this lengthy play in a condensed version that retains most of its message. The themes of friendship, loyalty, and loss turn out to be less powerful, but more personal. Focusing on the seven characters Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Strato, Calpurnia, Antonia, and Portia allowed us to get to know them personally, and still feel connected to their ambitions, during the short run time.
The sound design stood out as bursts of “Hail Caesar” echoed as if from afar and jarring metallic sounds coloured the fight scenes, enhancing their sharp choreography. The props chosen for swords and daggers were unique: they were more shiny blunted sticks than swords. While more realistic weapons would have been more appropriate, they were creatively held in the hair or in a belt when not in use, which was a nice addition.
When Caesar was assassinated, the blood was depicted with strips of bright red fabric tangled around their fingers, and, while slightly distracting, this was a clever solution to messy death scenes. A more realistic use of blood would have helped me stay engaged with the story, but the fabric stood out and pulled attention away from the action.
Each character was dressed in a different assortment of black, draping garments that added to the overall sombre tone, and the sparse set allowed for the actors and the plot to be the focus. The actors delivered lines with conviction, and drew me into the struggles of the characters.
Overall, I was impressed with what this production was able to accomplish with such a colossal text, but some of the gaps in the text made for a clunky ride that didn’t always make sense. There seemed to be scenes missing, and as characters got into a new bit of dialogue there was some filling in to be done by the audience to catch up with them.
Amanda Lisman as Caesar was triumphant, and Caroline Cave’s Brutus was aching with culpability. Antonia, played by Tracey Power, was perhaps the strongest character, being the one who avenged the death of her friend. Full of psychological tension and political unrest with a feminine twist, this classic play was treated well by the ladies in J Caesar.
J Caesar was adapted from Shakespeare by the Escape Artists and presented at the Kay Meek Centre May 21 to 29. For more information, visit escapeartists.ca.
