Seeking Truth and Authenticity
In England at the end of the 16th century, with an aging While Shakespeare based his play on historical events, queen on throne who had reigned for 41 years, political it is decidedly not a documentary. He does not worry change was imminent. Elizabeth was 66 and had not about historical accuracy. For example, his actors married, produced children, or named an heir. In 1599, would have worn a mix of togas and Elizabethan amidst anxiety about succession and the future of the clothing and he was not bothered by using the nation, including the threat of civil chiming of a mechanical clock, war, Shakespeare penned Julius which was not invented until the Caesar. middle ages. Shakespeare’s “Our adaption seeks primary source is Plutarch’s Lives truth and authenticity in Set in Rome in 44 BC, in a world of Noble Grecians and Romans, of political intrigue and domestic storytelling, togas with especially the biographies of tension, the play explores the rise of Caesar and Brutus, which had a modern twist Caesar—a popular, effective and been translated into English by powerful leader—and the moral and diverse casting Thomas North. While the main dilemma faced by Marcus Brutus. elements of the story are intact, that reflects our Should he stand by while Caesar’s Shakespeare adapts the material community and world, ambitions threaten the civic virtues freely, as he did in his history plays. of the Republic? Or, should he side as we draw new Notably, he compresses time. The with the conspirators? This group events of the two opening scenes significance from this is increasingly concerned about were separated by months but Caesar’s assault on civil liberties enduring story.” Shakespeare has Caesar’s defeat and potential for authoritarianism of Pompey occur closer to the Ides and seeks to assassinate him. Brutus of March, making the events of that hesitates but is swayed by Cassius - Kathryn M. Moncrief, day a more direct consequence (Cassia in our production) who Associate Director + Dramaturg of Caesar’s actions. Additionally, appeals to both his patriotism and there were actually two battles vanity. Brutus makes his choice of Philippi twenty days apart, in Act 3 Scene 1 and the rest of Octavius did not reach Rome until the play explores the disastrous consequences of his six weeks after the death of Caesar, and Brutus and actions. Written right after Henry V, and immediately Cassius did not meet their demise until two years after before Hamlet, all three plays explore issues of the assassination. The effect is a play that is swift and leadership (who is fit to rule), personality, power, incisive, sharpening the focus to key events, issues and corruption and the fate of the nation. page 14
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