BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE DIRECTOR JAMES EVANS A HANDY GUIDE TO BLUFFING YOUR WAY THROUGH BY ANDY MCLEAN
SPEED READ A quick flick through When returns to Rome, triumphant from war with Pompey s sons, senior Romans are royally riled. Rome is a republic and the senators fear Caesar holds too much power. So, Cassius and co plan to murder Caesar. Cassius convinces a reluctant Brutus to join the fray, though Brutus draws the line at killing Mark Antony too. Meanwhile Caesar ignores the pleas of his wife and the warning of a soothsayer ( Beware the Ides of March? It s all Greek to Caesar), and he goes to the Capitol where he is stabbed to death. Brutus tries to justify the assassination to the good people of Rome, but it s Mark Antony s eulogising of Caesar that really speaks to the masses. The conspirators are quickly convicted in the court of public opinion, and riots break out in the city. From there it s a slippery slope towards civil war. Mark Antony and Caesar s appointed heir, Octavius, lead an army against the conspirators and, if you have tears, prepare to shed them now. Because conspirators Cassius and Brutus commit suicide rather than be captured. 2
FRIENDS, ROMANS, COUNTRYMEN The character lowdown Costume Design by Anna Tregloan JULIUS CAESAR The all-conquering living legend Julius Caesar is flattered by (and tempted to accept) offers to become Rome s King. BRUTUS Brutus is a man of principle and integrity. His devotion to Caesar is surpassed only by his devotion to Rome. CASSIUS Power hungry and conniving, Cassius thinks he s found a chink in Julius Caesar s armour. Now he s ready to (literally) drive a knife through it. MARK ANTONY Antony is unswerving in his loyalty and rarely leaves Caesar s side. He s also learned a thing or two from his friend about politics, persuasion and public speaking. SOOTHSAYER A creepy outsider with a knack for seeing into the future. CALPHURNIA Sensing danger, Caesar s wife is spooked and fears for her husband s safety. PORTIA Brutus s wife is a wise confidante, and she suspects he s keeping something from her. CASCA, CINNA, TREBONIUS, METELLUS CIMBER Roman senators-cum-conspirators in thrall of Cassius. OCTAVIUS CAESAR The next generation of the Caesar dynasty, Octavius expects to one day take what he considers to be his rightful seat of power in Rome. CINNA THE POET A Roman poet who has the extraordinary misfortune to share a name with one of the conspirators. (That s not going to end well, is it?) 3
WAS SHAKESPEARE A SOOTHSAYER? Image: rehearsals, 2018 Prudence Upton Watching on stage today, it s tempting to wonder whether William Shakespeare shared the same clairvoyant powers as the Soothsayer in his play. The issues Shakespeare explores are uncannily similar to those we face in modern society. Debate continues in Australia about whether or not to form a republic in place of an unelected monarch. And Australians have recently witnessed two Prime Ministers toppled by political factions and former allies. But that s just for starters. Fake news and alternative facts are used in to deceive Brutus when an anonymous note is thrown through his window and Mark Antony gives the Roman masses a vivid description of Caesar s murder despite not actually having witnessed it. (Can we even be sure that Caesar truly wrote the generous will that Antony uses to sway the crowd?) The play also raises questions about the rights and wrongs of pre-emptive violence (when is it acceptable to strike first against a potential aggressor?) and the conspirators cast doubts about Caesar s leadership credentials in light of his age and failing health (a tactic employed by both sides in the 2016 US presidential election). 4
QUOTE, UNQUOTE contains some of the most famous lines in theatre, as well as several phrases that are still heard in everyday life: THEY VANISH TONGUE-TIED IN THEIR GUILTINESS Act 1 Scene 1 BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH Act 1 Scene 2 BUT, FOR MINE OWN PART, IT WAS GREEK TO ME Act 1 Scene 2 I AM CONSTANT AS THE NORTHERN STAR Act 3 Scene 1 ET TU, BRUTE? THEN FALL, CAESAR Act 3 Scene 1 CRY HAVOC! AND LET SLIP THE DOGS OF WAR Act 3 Scene 1 FRIENDS, ROMANS, COUNTRYMEN, LEND ME YOUR EARS: I COME TO BURY CAESAR, NOT TO PRAISE HIM Act 3 Scene 2 THE EVIL THAT MEN DO LIVES AFTER THEM Act 3 Scene 2 5
SAY WHAT? Post-show conversation starters to make you look smart Image: rehearsals, 2018 Prudence Upton THAT WAS THEN Shakespeare frequently massaged historical facts for dramatic effect but in he often remained faithful to real-life events. For example: Julius Caesar really did decline a crown (aka diadem) when Marcus Antonius publicly offered it to him; conspirators (including Cassius and Brutus) did stab Caesar to death; and yes, the assassination did happen on the Ides of March. The year before he assassinated Abraham Lincoln, American actor John Wilkes Booth had performed on stage in a production of as Antony. THIS IS NOW A New York production of caused a stir last year when the Roman ruler bore a striking resemblance to Donald Trump (Calphurnia also looked a lot like Melania Trump). Acrimony followed including protests, death threats, and sponsors withdrawing support. is namechecked in contemporary songs by artists as diverse as Crowded House, Wu-Tang Clan and Elton John. Luminaries such as Joni Mitchell and Conor Oberst have even written lyrics borrowing heavily from Shakespeare s play. Shakespeare may have had a hunch that this play would resonate long after he was gone. Cassius just about says so when he speculates: How many ages hence/shall this our lofty scene be acted over/in states unborn and accents yet unknown? (Act 3 Scene 1). In Shakespeare s day, female characters were played on stage by men. Bell Shakespeare has twice turned that on its head in. In 2012, Cassius was played by Kate Mulvany. Now in 2018, Mark Antony is played by Sara Zwangobani and Octavius Caesar by Emily Havea. 6
Level 1, 33 Playfair Street The Rocks NSW 2000 Australia PO Box 10 Millers Point NSW 2000 Australia T +61 2 8298 9000 E mail@bellshakespeare.com.au BellShakespeareCo bellshakespeare @Bellshakespeare BELLSHAKESPEARE.COM.AU