*(Photo Caption) Cassius (Madeleine James, left) and Mark Antony (Kimberly DiPersia) face off in one of the fight sequences in Hudson Shakespeare Company's production of Julius Caesar.
Text of article:
'Julius Caesar' from a Women's Perspective, Staged in Stratford
By Joe Meyers
William Shakespeare had fun with gender in both the writing of his plays and in their original productions.
The bard loved stories where women disguised themselves as men.
Ironically, the writer was bound by the traditions of the Elizabethan theater to have young men play all the female parts in his plays.
Women were not allowed to act in those days.
It might be hard for us to imagine now, but Shakespeare's audience saw boys play Lady Macbeth, Gertrude, and Juliet.
The Hudson Shakespeare Company decided to do its own gender experimentation in a new production of Julius Caesar in which the scheming Roman politicians are played by women.
Director Jon Ciccarelli describes his approach as a post-modern take that mixes ancient Rome with the modern world.
"We don't try to have the women imitate men or present some type of stylized caricature or even a lesbian bent," the director stresses.
"The cast simply play it as women--themselves going through these situations. I feel that gender differences are very exaggerated in pop culture and that men and women are much more
'Julius Caesar' in touch with feminine side.
closer in their thinking than one would gather by watching Oprah or Dr. Phil", he adds.
Jennifer Fouche, who is playing Brutus, told a reporter for The Waterfront Journal in July that the play's fight sequences make it easy for her to get into character.
"I like to think I'm in good shape. However, this makes you very aware of that time period and what it was like to battle," she said.
"We're doing stage combat, which is fun, but the sword and shields are really heavy...As a cast, I think we're holding up. Nobody is falling down panting," the performer adds.
Ciccarelli has crafted an abridged, two-hour performance of Julius Caesar.
The play tells the story of the return to Rome of General Caesar (Vivienne Maya) after defeating her latest opponent.
Brutus (Jennifer Fouche) and Cassius (Madeleine James) fear the general will go farther than her predecessor and become a dictator.
The Republic descends into civil war after the assassination of Caesar.
The less experience Octavius (Jessica Geguzis) and the "ever-drunk" Mark Antony (Kimberly DiPersia) try to take control of the government.
The Hudson Shakespeare Company works out of Hudson County, New York and Jersey City, New Jersey, creating productions that tour the Tri-State area all year long.
The group does new plays and other classics during the year, but devotes it's summer season to exploring Shakespeare's work
The group is now in it's 17th season of touring outdoor productions of Shakespeare.
Those who plan to attend the Stratford performance are asked to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets for seating.
In the event of rain, the performance will be moved into the library's Lovell Room.
Julius Caesar will be presented Saturday at 2PM in the outdoor amphitheater of the Stratford Library, 2203 Main Street. The event is free and open to the public. No reservations are taken and seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information call 385-4164 or visit stratfordlibrary.org.
