Falcon Theatre presents William Shakespeare's
Julius Caesar
Set in a mythical matriarchy with the political structure of Ancient Rome, the language of Renaissance England, and the style of 1940's America...
Highlights
Collaboration with Visual Arts classes to create a series of 1940's inspired propaganda posters to be used throughout the play and in advertising.
Program Notes
Click link for full program.
I have enjoyed describing the setting of this particular performance of Julius Caesar too much over the past month: A mythical matriarchy with the political structure of Ancient Rome, the language of Renaissance England, and the style of 1940's America.
The concept, like all the best concepts, grew out of necessity. Incarnate Word Academy is an all-AFAB school, so if we are going to do Shakespeare, it will need to be gender-blind or gender-reversed casting (where women play the male parts and men play the women's parts). The costume hold is overflowing with 1940's (and thereabouts) costumes thanks to Mill Girls and Thoroughly Modern Millie but completely devoid of a single toga.
Both of these realities led to great things on our humble stage. I have loved hearing the soaring rhetoric of Shakespeare's greatest political play performed by the female actors of IWA. As each of our major political parties seriously considers a female presidential candidate, the visual proves hopeful rather than discouraging. Perhaps we are not far from a world where no Portia, whether male or female, feels restricted from a career in public office as she (or rather, in our production, he) so tragically does.
Brutus (Cortiana Barnes) tries to calm down the overzealous Caius Ligarus (Jackie Vasquez) who is a little too enthusiastic to join the Conspiracy.
Highlights
Full production in five weeks. Student-matinee added to school day for first time in IWA history. Julius Caesar actress has completed translation of Julius Caesar's memoir from the original Latin. Rosie the Riveter-inspired design for Roman army split.
