“And we are governed with our mothers’ spirits.
Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish.”
–(Julius Caesar, Act 1, Sc 3)
By Eric George Tauber
SAN DIEGO — Years ago, I had an artistic residency with a group of fourth graders doing a condensed version of Julius Caesar. I put to them this question: Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? At that age, they’re more accustomed to their heroes and villains being straight forward and clear-cut. The wheels churned as they struggled to untangle a world of moral ambiguities. But that’s the web of intrigue that the Bard of Avon takes us into.
One of the problems of Julius Caesar is that there are only two small female roles. After all, Rome was a man’s world and only men held power. But 2016 is a new world with a probable female president-elect (My lips to God’s ears) and the reins of power are not solely in male hands anymore.
So why not give all of these roles to women? And who better to direct these strong, ambitious women than Moxie’s feminist powerhouse, Delicia Turner-Sonnenberg?
Staged in the smaller Experimental Theatre at SDSU, Emily Small’s scenic design brought us into the white marbled world of Rome, evoking a sense of grandeur even in the limited space. Costume Designer Beatrice Collins put the senators in military uniform with bold red sashes, indicating a police state. Civil liberties be damned for peace and order.
Angry mobs and screaming soldiers ran past us through the aisles, drawing us into the action. A nice touch was when they turned “We will be satisfied! Let us be satisfied!” into a chant of protest.
“Let me have about me men that are fat;
Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o’ nights.
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look.
He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous.” (Act 1, Sc. 2)
Jordan Grier connives and schemes with flair as Cassius. She’s smart, sure and no one to be trifled with.
“Et tu, Brute?” (Act 3, Sc.1)
Lierin Abdo is eloquent as Brutus. A person at war with herself, she wants to do what’s right, but must commit a great wrong in order to do it. Ideals are hard to hold onto with blood-stained hands.
Jaeonine Davis Crawford has a certain swag as Decius. Her wry looks and expressive face made her a fun actor to watch.
“Mischief thou art afoot. Take thou what course thou wilt.”
(Act 3; Sc. 3)
Alli Thiss grew on me as Mark Antony. With persuasive oratory, she turns white hot anger into cold calculation, twisting the crowd into a mob bent on vengeance.
Fight choreography by Adrian Alita is brutally intense. By the end, we feel torn apart by the dogs of war.
The Prophet Samuel warned us what kings would be like. (1 Sam 8:10-22, Koren) Such a king as Julius Caesar. His name became a title and his title inspired the titles “Kaiser” and “Czar.” And those titles were often spat out with a curse.
If you have a young person in your life that you’d like to get away from their smart phones and get into their Shakespeare, then get them to SDSU for a night they will not soon forget.
*
Tauber is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. He may be contacted via eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com