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Theatre & Box Office |
Reprinted with permission of The Times of Northwest Indiana. THEATER SCENE with Kevin Murphy Roman nobleman, Julius Caesar (Steve Holm) has become so popular in the Roman city-state that it appears likely he will be made king. Not all Romans, however, welcome that possibility, and therein lies a tale of politics and assassination that will lead the participants to outcomes they had not intended. Chief among the opponents of the king-making process is Roman noble, Cassius (Heather McCalment), who aims to stop the movement before it becomes uncontrollable. Key to the anti-Caesar effort will be the nobleman, Marcus Brutus (David Pera), one of Caesar's closest friends. Luck, it seems is with Cassius, for Brutus, though he loves Caesar dearly, fears the installation of a king more, seeing that option as the route to enslavement of the Roman people. Things move along quickly after their first discussion, as Cassius and Brutus recruit like-minded Romans, Casca (Jeff Jones), Trebonius (Jeff Manes), Ligarius (Doc Kuhn), Decius Brutus (Robin Perry), Metelllus Cimber (Greg Pachnik), and Cinna (Eric Michaels), and set the time for Caesar's assassination for a day or so after their planning meeting. The assassination is successful, and a civil war erupts, pitting the assassins and their supporters against Caesar's followers, led by Anthony (Karl Berner) and Octavius (Kelly Bilski). And the rest is Shakespeare's take on history. This is a large-scale production, with 29 actors, and a lot of high-tech touches that are both fascinating and intrusive, in terms of their effect on pacing, which is too slow for a production that needs to move crisply for maximum effect. I found the use of background music very effective and subtle, sometimes almost subliminal in softness. On the other hand, the thunder sound effect was too intrusive, often obscuring dialogue completely. The use of multiple monitors and video clips was a mixed bag, with some of the bits too small for clear appreciation, while others fit well in the story telling. But the technique sometimes slowed the pacing considerably, as if they were slow set changes involving extensive physical property moves. But it was only the second performance, and timing can be tightened. If it is, CTG's "Julius Caesar" can be a powerful theatrical experience. "Julius Caesar" runs through February 21, with performances at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, in the Chicago Street Theatre, 154 W. Chicago Street. Tickets: $12 ($10 seniors, $8 students). Reservations: (219) 464-1636. |