Julius Caesar

This comes first because it is possibly the first Shakespeare I saw (studied it for O level in 1986/7) and remains my favourite play for reasons I cannot really identify. I'm not sure it's entirely normal to fall so passionately in love with your O level set texts, but it may have been because of the first production at the Young Vic in 1987 with Corin Redgrave as Brutus and Matthew Marsh as Cassius which still remains the most compelling and moving interpretation of the quarrel scene that I've experienced despite having seen at least 6 or 7 other productions of the play. (and that one twice :) ). I cannot watch it without mouthing the lines along with the actors and if prompted, I know most of the play by heart. I knew it so well at the time of studying it and was so enthusiastic about it that I actually led a class about it. I might also have been a little bit in love with Matthew Marsh for a while and retain a literary crush on Cassius to this day.


As far as I can remember, I have seen it once at Stratford (special trip with my dad), twice at the Globe, plus a workshop that I dragged my reluctant daughter to participate in there, at the Barbican and at the Orange Tree theatre in Richmond (also including a workshop). Ooh, and once at the Roundhouse.


I am extremely excited to have organised myself in time this time to catch the Donmar's all female production with Harriet Walter as Brutus. Will edit this post when I've seen it to report back on that.


So the all-female production at the Donmar. There were many, many things I liked a lot about this production; the framing of the play of Julius Caesar in the setting of a women's prison which interacted with the play itself. Jackie Clune, playing Caesar, was top dog in the prison, reflecting her performed role with an arrogance and menace that made her, I think, the best Caesar I have seen and the romantic/sexual relationship between her prison character and that of Jade Anouka, playing Anthony, gave that dynamic an extra dimension. I've noticed that very stylised movement or dance on stage is a thing that really pleases me and this had it, in responses to Caesar and to Clune's prison character. Masks of her face were used to highlight power and control. Oh and the final battle scene was absolutely wonderful, rifles used as guitars to a heavy rock background, complete with on stage drummer! Harriet Walter's staid Brutus rocking out was probably my favourite moment.


I wanted to love her performance. And bits of it I did. She was a very human, slightly awkward Brutus and I liked that, but she fluffed her lines quite a bit. I probably wouldn't have noticed in a play I know less well than this one. Also, the quarrel scene, always my touchstone for how much I love a performance, didn't really quite hit the spot! But there were definitely wonderful moments...actually especially at the end, after a frighteningly militaristic and obviously power-hungry Octavius speaks the final words of Shakespeare's play and we return to the prison, with klaxon and guards announcing it is time for the women to return to their cells; their props and costumes shed where they stand, they line up and trudge away....except for Hannah (Walter), a lifer, who is trying to get away and as she is recalled to her cell, explodes into a foul-mouthed attack on the audience..."go on, fuck off..you can fucking leave, we have to stay here!" It's immensely moving and poignant. On the whole, a really good and very different experience...which I probably need for production number 8!

What's it all about?

2016 started well for bucket list achievements. I finally, after talking about wanting to for many years, swam in cold water outdoors on New Year's Day at the wonderful Ladies Pond with lovely friends. At the end of January, I got to see Eddie Izzard live. So I felt I needed some new things on my bucket list as I'm not planning on kicking it just yet.


This is an on-going project to see at least one production of every Shakespeare play live in a theatre. I go to see a LOT of Shakespeare but I do tend to see the same plays over and over because they are favourites. So I'm going to start by putting a list here of all the plays and then do a separate post about each, including thoughts about productions I've seen (where I can remember any details....been watching Shakespeare for about 30 years!) Plays I have seen are written in pink.

COMEDIES

All's Well That Ends WellAs You Like ItComedy of ErrorsLove's Labour's LostMeasure for MeasureMerchant of VeniceMerry Wives of WindsorMidsummer Night's DreamMuch Ado about NothingTaming of the ShrewTempestTwelfth NightTwo Gentlemen of VeronaWinter's Tale

HISTORIES

Henry IV, Part IHenry IV, Part IIHenry VHenry VI, Part IHenry VI, Part IIHenry VI, Part IIIHenry VIIIKing JohnPericlesRichard IIRichard III

TRAGEDIES

Antony and CleopatraCoriolanusCymbelineHamletJulius CaesarKing LearMacbethOthelloRomeo and JulietTimon of AthensTitus AndronicusTroilus and Cressida


As you can see, I'm about half way through, having seen 19 of 37. some of the rest might be a bit of a challenge; most of the ones I haven't seen don't seem to be produced very often. I'm quite cross I didn't get more organised to go and see Cymbeline at the Sam Wanamaker theatre in the early part of this year, but I do plan to see Othello there this winter.