Julius Caesar

Overall I was very impressed by how the performance turned out, and how everything worked together to create such an amazing theatre production. In the beginning, when the beginning of the rehearsal process began, I didn’t think it was going to be so successful. I thought that there would be problems and that people wouldn’t get all they’re lines on time, but I was wrong. Even though the lines were a bit of an issue very close to when the actual play was supposed to happen, it wasn’t when the actual performance came around. Altogether the end result was really good and I was surprised by how much it actually did work out and how everything worked together in creating a really good performance of a very hard theatre piece.
I think that it was also very successful because we changed the actual time of when the play was happening, instead of all of us wearing togas and old roman clothing, the fact that the play took place in the seventies made it very easy to stage and direct. Because of this change everything worked together to create a more believable production as a whole. The lighting, set, costumes, music, setting, and minimalist props all worked very well to create a believable play.
The use of the modern music was very impressive because not only was it believable but it added to the reminder that although the play happened a very long time ago, it could easily have been something that could happen recently, and the music, along with the other qualities of theatre (set, costume, lights, props), was very convincing in showing how although it was written in Shakespearean times, it could easily be a modern play.
The costumes were not only helpful for the time of the play, they were also comfortable and easy to work with, which definitely made the play more enjoyable and easier to do. Even though at some times it may have been difficult to distinguish between each character (especially when everyone was wearing the war suit) overall the costumes were very helpful and made an impact. I think everyone was especially surprised and amazed by the identical war suits, because of how realistic they looked.
Although the scenery and props were very minimalist, I think it made more of an impact than having very high tech surroundings. If the stage was cluttered, there definitely would not have been such an impact on the audience, because since there was hardly anything onstage at all times, it made it easier for the audience to understand what was going on in the actual play. If there had been more things it would have distracted the audience and would have made the play even more confusing than it already is.
The over all acting in the play was very good, and provided very realistic and understandable feelings. Because of the acting, the main message of the play was captured by the audience. I think that everyone was a great actor/actress and everyone worked hard to try and do their best. There were some actors/actresses that stood out above the rest, but overall everyone did well.
I think that the main point of doing this play was not only to just do a modern version of a Shakespeare play, but also to show that the problems, main one being war and betrayal, are still prevalent today, and that this could happen at any point in the modern world, although not using the exact same language. This point was definitely carried across mainly because of the creative use and combination of all the elements of theatre.
Even though there were a few random problems during the performances, there was nothing that created too much of a problem. Everyone I have talked to since the play has said they really enjoyed it, so I don’t think that even if something did go wrong, that they noticed it.