On Oct. 6, the Virginia Hahne Theater, 19 S. College St., was tightly packed with an audience eagerly awaiting the opening night of Julius Caesar. As the first show put up by the School of Theater this academic year, it took the stage by storm.
William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is one of his most well-known tragedies, tracking the downfall of Caesar himself. Something that, on the surface, would seem so unrelatable is made tangible by this production's message.
“It's so indirect to say ‘vote,’” said Shelley Delaney, the director. “But there were a myriad of examples of current politicians running for office, who are basically in actual words, harkening back to Caesar and saying that we need a new American Caesar.”
Delaney’s approach to modernizing was simple.
“We're in contemporary suits,” Delaney said. “Some of the crowd shouts will sound familiar. But, as I said, I think the play in this political moment speaks for itself. What I didn't want to do was stick MAGA hats on anybody… I had no interest in underlining it as the American political moment right now because I think it's so resonant in the play that if you're not getting it, you're not paying attention.”
The intention of connecting to all types of audiences was not lost when every performance was sold out. From the newest freshman students to the people who have lived in Athens their whole lives, all saw this impactful piece.
“It's just the idea that the political landscape in this country and many countries around the world is at a breaking point,” Delaney said. “I won't debate whether it's overstating to say that we're on the verge of a civil war, that's language that other people have used enough for me not to stick a claim in it or say where I stand on that. But this is a play about that moment. If they see that in that moment, I want them to question the choices they make if they choose to vote.”
The process of this play has been more than just politics for some of the cast.
“It's been quite a challenge,” Felipe Luz, a grad student studying acting, said. “As someone who is not a native speaker, I get a little self-conscious about just expressing myself and my thoughts. So it’s been challenging, but I think it’s been so rewarding because every day I learn a new thing and find different meanings in the text that I didn’t find before.”
Luz played Portia in the show. Portia is Brutus’ wife, which was originally a female character.
“A lot of characters are gender-bent,” Luz said. “(Portia) is so smart, and they just don’t settle for what people’s perception of how they should act. They’re always trying to overcome something.”
Luz has felt that every actor has been appreciated and this is well seen in their final product. Luz said the fight against fate is what makes this such an interesting play, but the core of this production was the identities of the characters.
“Violence doesn't have to be the first go-to when you disagree with someone,” George Carpenter, an MFA acting student, who played Julius Caesar, said.
Carpenter said their interpretation of the classic play hopefully sparks conversations.
“Communication is lacking in vast parts of the theater world and in the world in general right now,” Carpenter said. “ I would say that people need to be willing to sit down and discuss ideas that may be different than theirs instead of sitting down with an agenda, declaring that they're right and willing to jump to violence before communication."
The intense atmosphere created by many of the ensemble members shaped a fearful and brutal tragedy, something Carpenter said anyone can see would relate to the outside world.
“We need to come together,” Carpenter said. “Give people a chance. They might surprise you.”
