Julius Caesar was Emperor of Rome for many years one of the most powerful men in the civilised world; numerous of his senators were unhappy with his job and praise he was receiving since it was all a joint effort. An oracle warned Julius Caesar not to go to the senate on the Ides of March because there were fears of his death. Brushing concerns from the oracle and his wife who had nightmares during the night, aside, Julius Caesar proceeded to the senate, where he is brutally murdered by his trusted friends. His murderers turn out to be his closest friends from the man he virtually called his son Brutus to on of the lowest men in his senate Cinna. His death causes war to break out between the democrats and the republicans. Many influential people were killed. Shakespeare’s political thriller is a provocative and timeless story of the nature of tyranny, political sp

The director, Mark Thomson, made some very interesting decisions with the set, positioning of the people and his decisions on how the class distinction would be shown. The set was modern and very classy; it was the outside of a parliamentary building. Instead of having a set change for each scene, they kept the same sets but had different features so that it was obvious whose house it was or if it was inside or outside. After the interval, the set was changed so it was inside the leaders tents during the battle. Before the interval, Julius Caesar had been murdered and the blood had stained the floor. The second set was made out of broken glass, which reflected the bloodstained floor. I thought this was very symbolic because the blood represented Julius Caesar‘s ghost and presence; the broken glass was like the crushed empire. The second set was much more dramatic and easily captured by the audience’s eye. Whereas, I felt, set one was rather dull and too stereotypical.

I have nothing against the person playing the Oracle but I think some parts of his acting and speech was not as high a standard as the rest. The lights went on, the curtain rose and the only person on stage was this man dressed as a beggar. Many people actually thought that he was a real beggar who had lost his way onto the stage because his costume was so lifelike and his puzzled expression on his face made people wonder if he really knew where he was. That would have been fine if he was to play a beggar who was lost, but he was meant to be a highly looked upon person who knew everything. His costume was the main thing I did not like about him but it was not his fault, the actors did not decided what to wear themselves. He was still not convincing and as Oracle and it was no wonder Julius Caesar did not believe him and tried to get rid of him. The first time he spoke to Julius Caesar, I could not figure out what he was saying because he did not project his voice and turned away from the audience. Another thing, he just stood dumbstruck, looking at Julius Caesar as if Julius Caesar had never asked him for advice before. Granted in the twenty first century we do not use oracles but the director could have made his character bolder and more respectable. He stood and shuffled as if he was a lazy beggar but at one point, he went back to normal and came out of character but only for a short period. He was just so held back and did not let anything out. I mean if you are trying to get someone’s attention so you can tell them they are going to be killed. You do no shuffle on stage whisper it and waddle off again without a care in the world. Also, the play was called “Beware of the Ides of March” which was his line, his part, his character and line was so important that they named a play after it! I heard him say it but there was no feeling, asking Julius Caesar to pass the sugar would have been easier for him. The biggest stars always are noticed from their one liners in films at they normally have a lasting affect but he certainly did not.

“Beware of the Ides of March” consisted of five acts, act one started in a street in Rome, act two begins in Brutus’ home, there is a senate meeting at the beginning of act three, act four follows the death of Julius Caesar and act five opens on the Plains of Philippi. The Royal Lyceum Theatre stage is famous for being a proscenium arch stage, with no orchestra pit; people in the first few rows could touch those on stage.

in, and power. With huge relevance to today’s world order, Julius Caesar is an exciting story of ideals and how one day in politics can turn the whole world upside down.

Some topics in this essay:
Mark Thomson, Julius Caesar, Julius Caesar’s, Ides March”, Julius Caesar‘s, Plains Philippi, julius caesar, Emperor Rome, Lyceum Theatre, Ides March, Doing Shakespeare, ides march”, “beware ides march”, “beware ides, mark thomson, called “beware ides, julius caesar’s, metal grinding, modern day, strong play, broken glass, caesar murdered, julius caesar murdered,