By Louise
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R1S8pRoOwY
Available until: Unknown
Some people are a bit disappointed with Julius Caesar because there isn’t very much for the female characters to do. Shakespeare has written a lot of brilliant female characters, but there are only two females in Julius Caesar and they’re not always presented in a very positive way.
IAE, Circle in the Sand and the Alex Theatre’s production gives you a completely different perspective. This production really demonstrates the fact that there is a big difference between a ‘female character’ and a ‘character who can be played by a female actor’. Every character in this production is played by someone who is female (or appears to be, you do have to be a bit careful about assuming someone is female) and every character is brilliantly performed.
I actually forgot they were female when I was watching the play because they were just characters who were being played by very good actors, but now I’ve watched the whole play, I think they’ve all achieved something really special. I’m not surprised they’ve managed to achieve it because I’ve seen so many good female actors in male roles, but it is very exciting to watch it and it makes an important statement. Julius Caesar might not be the best play for female characters, but it is definitely a great play for female actors.
Also the two female characters are performed in a different way from usual. Portia and especially Calpurnia can be seen as quite emotional females who aren’t very sensible or intelligent, but in this production, they are like the voices of reason. They give their points of view really calmly, convincingly and intelligently. And let’s not forget that both women are right. Caesar really should have stayed at home and if Brutus had talked to Portia, maybe things would have gone very differently.
This production is on Zoom so the actors aren’t in the same room together, but you can see all the care that has gone into making it seem as though they are. There’s a death scene at the end involving two people and this is especially clever. It’s almost easier to believe they’re in the same place than it is to believe they’re not!
There are some other great special effects which are very atmospheric like the sound of rain and the sound of battle. The actors also use Zoom backgrounds to help you get a sense of place. The IAE, Circle in the Sand and Alex Theatre are very experienced at Zoom theatre now so they know what they’re doing, but it is still really impressive to see how smooth it was.
Elizabeth Semmell is brilliant in the title role, she gives Caesar so much presence and charisma and it is so easy to see why he is so successful. But there is also a tiny bit of superiority in his manner that makes you think it’s also not a complete surprise that some people don’t like him. Hannah Harquart is a powerful and passionate Mark Antony who brings her character across really strongly and drives the play forward. Sophie Muckart is compelling and completely believable as Brutus, always exciting to watch and you couldn’t blame anyone if they did think he was an honourable man.
Amy Bradney-George’s moving Portia and Khlar Thorsen’s calm, serious Calpurnia are great readings of the character and the many other great performers include Bianca Muniz who gives Cinna the Poet’s scene a feeling of comedy which makes the ending hurt even more, Elizabeth Parisi who brings out Shakespeare’s poetry really brilliantly as Cassius. Shirley van Sanden is an impressive Casca and it feels like there’s a lot going on under the surface in her performance.
This is a really great
production of Julius Caesar and it’s free too.
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