Review: JULIUS CAESAR Embraces Mother Russia at the Hylton Performing Arts Center

"I will do so. Till then, think of the world," Cassius says this to Brutus in William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar is Shakespeare's gripping political drama about the fall of Julius Caesar in the hands of a group of conspirators led by Brutus and Cassius. Prince William Little Theatre's production of Julius Caesar doesn't take place in the play's traditional time period and this is certainly for the better. In this production, "the world" that Cassius refers to isn't Rome, but Russia. Gone are the Romanian robes and laurels. In are the Ushankas and military fatigues. The production's time period centers on Russia in 1991 after the fall of the Former Soviet Union. PWLT's Julius Caesar, directed by Mary-Anne Sullivan, is a pleasant twist on this classic Shakespeare play.

Shakespeare is often a hurdle for actors and it can easily be done in a way that prevents the audience from being able to understand it. In PWLT's Julius Caesar, the cast delivers their lines in ways that allow the audience to better understand the Shakespearean dialect. Many actors play multiple roles and those in the cast, who have more than one role, are able to transition from one character to the next easily. Notable performances are aplenty. Leland Shook (Cassius) brings on the charisma as the devious manipulator on stage. His scenes with Jay Tilley (Marcus Brutus) are electric as the looming tempests in the play. Tilley's scene with Haliya Roberts (Portia) brings out the vulnerability in his character that isn't necessarily seen during any other point in the production. Roberts is a solid choice for Portia and gives a heartbreaking performance during a scene in which Portia is trying to figure out what Brutus is doing late at night. Scott Clayton-Olson (Julius Caesar) only appears in a couple of scenes, but he is able to command the stage comfortably in his role as the Caesar. AnuRa Harrison (Calphurnia), like Roberts and Clayton-Olson, is only on stage for a small amount of time, but her performance is raw and emotionally wrenching. Matthew Scarborough (Marc Anthony) delivers a very powerful and thought stirring performance of the famous "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears" speech.

The production uses technology along with a simple set design to its advantage. The videography by Leland Shook and special effects for the projections by Rodrigo Pool enhance the audience's experience. There are two videos at the beginning of each act and these videos are unique ways to draw the audience into each act. During scene changes, iconic images and videos of Russia and Russian unrest flash briefly. The set, designed by Lisa Stewart and Mary-Anne Sullivan, is an effective use of space. Risers create dynamic levels for the cast to stand on. Red is a color that is used throughout the play, such as the red banners with the sickle and hammer hang side by side in the background throughout the play. The music selection, such as the addition of a song called "The Black Raven," a Russian folk song, during a scene in which Brutus encounters a paranormal apparition, guides the production's imagery well. The costume design, by Mary-Anne Sullivan, is authentic from the fashionable suits to the military uniforms.

PWLT's production is a refreshing take on Julius Caesar that you will make you ignore your soothsayer's warnings in order to go to it. PWLT's Julius Caesar runs until October 25th. Tickets can be purchased online.

Photo caption and credit: Scott Clayton-Olson (Caesar), Ahmad Maaty (Decius Brutus) and AnuRa Harrison (Calphurnia) in PWLT's production of Julius Caesar. (Photo credit: David Harback of Harback Photography)

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