Beware the Ides of March: PPC’s Shakespeare Troupe Celebrates March 15 with Gallifreyan Julius Caesar

Nita Incog, Editor-In-Chief and Stand-In Critic for Stan Grayson, Who Came Down With a Bad Case of Lungworm and Couldn’t Go to the Performance We Got Tickets For

4.5/5 stars
dir. John Naki
March 15 – May 30, Saturdays at 7PM

A Troupe By Any Other Name, the PPC’s own Shakespearean acting company—or in their own words, a “loose confederation of directors who wrangle various Agents into doing Shakespeare”—celebrated the Ides of March by opening a production of Julius Caesar set on Gallifrey. The tragedy follows the story of Marcus Brutus and how he is led to his own downfall when he joins the conspiracy to kill Julius Caesar, the dictator of Rome.

This Gallifreyan Caesar opens on the eve of the Time War, with a Caesar who greatly resembles Rassilon, the real-life leader of the Time Lords around the time of the Time War. However, the play diverts from the actual events of the Time War when Brutus and the conspirators, most notable amongst them Caius Cassius, assassinate Rassilon-Caesar in the Panopticon of the Gallifreyan Capitol. The events that unfold afterwards spark a different kind of Time War, after Mark Antony incites the citizens of Gallifrey to seek revenge against Brutus and Cassius for their fallen leader. After this, the play turns its focus from conspiracy to atonement, set against the chaos of this new Time Lord civil war.

The performances of Brutus and Cassius in the first half of the play seem cold and distant at times, if not slightly wooden, but this changes dramatically during the infamous ‘tent scene’ in Act IV scene iii, when the two of them have an argument. Here, Cassius’s acting in particular begins to shine and take on a very passionate (if not slightly personal) air. I personally felt transported along the same emotions that Cassius experiences in this moment, enjoying the catharsis that the scene affords them and Brutus. It could even be said that for these two actors, art imitates life.

The Gallifreyan setting will pleasantly surprise those who may fear that it will overwhelm the plot of the play, as it only serves in this production to highlight the political destruction wreaked on both Gallifrey and Rome by the actions of these characters. The only real distraction are the funny collars, which do briefly detract from some of the more emotionally powerful moments of the play. Audiences will also be delighted to see familiar Time Lord faces in the cast, as practically all of the Time Lord Agents in HQ are in this cast. Particularly amusing amongst them is the Fisherman’s (DF) brief poetic cameo just before the curtain call, with a couple other minor characters by his side.

The curtain call and costume reveal will also surprise and, in some cases, delight the audience. Particularly striking is the casting choice for Brutus, who is not a Time Lord and yet perfectly suited to the character’s honourable nature. Another interesting casting choice is for the minor character Titinius, whose actor did not even show up for curtain call. Who is Titinius? Who plays Titinius? Perhaps future performances will reveal them to us, but as of now they remain as mysterious and plothole-esque as their character.

Julius Caesar will run until May 30^th, and I highly recommend you wrangle some free time from your missions to catch it, even if it’s only to see the Time Lord Agents stabbing each other on the stage.

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Comments

Cale Serfe, DF – 15 March 2014
While Brutus and Cassius are, of course, played very well, I couldn’t help but be, well, disappointed at the lack of kissing. I mean, would it have killed them to hold hands for a few minutes, at the very least? All they did was hug each other and cry! The tent scene should’ve merited a scorching kiss, at the very least. I’m sure everyone else is as disappointed as I am, and perhaps there’ll be a change to come in the next performance...

Elysa Webber, DO – 15 March 2014
You know, when Cassius first came onstage and started to speak—especially in that first scene with Brutus—I felt sure that the casting had been a complete failure. I mean, the ‘I pray you, do’ line alone—not to mention what follows—well, it came out completely wooden, and the rest of the scene wasn't much better. I got no sense that Cassius wanted to be around Brutus at all, let alone be his friend! Brutus himself was only slightly better: he called Cassius friend with more anger and resentment than anything else, and spent most of the scene looking frustrated or blank. Cassius, too, found some resentment and frustration, somewhere around the first ‘flourish and shout’, and even managed to dredge up some fury around ‘I was born as free as Caesar’. That, coupled with the occasional menacing looks at Rassilon Caesar, was the best thing I could see in Cassius’ acting for quite some time. And though Cassius’ hatred of Caesar is a strong and necessary part of the play, it can be argued that his love for Brutus must be stronger still; and I didn’t see much sign of the latter in the first scene!
But Cassius—played by the Time Lord called the Reader—proved herself later on. You’ve probably heard people ranting about how great the tent scene was; well, I’m about to join them, because that was the moment I truly felt the casting had been entirely accurate. Such emotion! Such anger, such desperation—and such reconciliation! I truly felt that I was watching something real—and, considering that Kozar (Brutus) and the Reader (Cassius) are rumored to have been having a tough time of things since the Reader replaced Kozar’s partner, I think it's entirely possible that it was real, and that we saw both a real fight and a real truce/reconciliation happening on stage today.
With luck, Kozar and the Reader will be more willing to get into character earlier on in the play, now that they've shared so moving a hug. And even if they don’t—the tent scene alone makes watching the play worthwhile. (But don't even get me started on Calpurnia! And the completely uncanonical attempted stabbing of Mark Antony—well, let's just say Time Lord politics are pretty amusing!)
All in all—a wonderful production. See it as soon as you can!

Maura Scott, DoSAT – 15 March 2014
Really dug the Fisherman and Evie both playing characters called Cinna. That was pretty funny.

Christianne Shieh, DMS – 16 March 2014
STOP SPOILING ALL THE PARTS. IT’LL RUIN THE PLAY FOR EVERYONE.

Officer Rooney, DOI – 16 March 2014
Hey, Chriss! You were really good as the Soothsayer!

Christianne Shieh, DMS – 16 March 2014
Thanks!

Edgar Sullivan, DIC – 16 March 2014
I liked the play pretty well, overall, though the sudden reveal of Luxury and Jacques Bonnefoy as the actors playing Portia and Calpurnia respectively was... rather disturbing. Mostly because they were snogging at the time. Bonnefoy was definitely hilarious as Calpurnia, though.

Nerys Carpenter, DO – 16 March 2014
That was hilarious! I really liked the Portia/Calpurnia scene at the end, though. It basically starts with Cal coming onstage going all “I told him, ‘Julie, don’t go’!” and then she bumps into Portia, who giggles and smiles and holds out a hand, and Cal considers it for all of two seconds before shrugging, tearing off her giant mourning collar, and snogging Portia. And then about half a minute in someone realized they weren’t about to stop anytime soon and just removed the disguises. Seriously, even though it turned out to be just Bonnefoy and Lux being their usual selves, I think I might ship Portia/Calpurnia now.

Luxury, DBS – 16 March 2014
Thank you! xoxo I liked the CalPortia scene too!! ;)

Jacques Bonnefoy, ESAS – 16 March 2014
Wanna meet up and continue it? ;))))

Christianne Shieh, DMS – 16 March 2014
Get a room, you two.

Jacques Bonnefoy, ESAS – 16 March 2014
Thanks, we will!!! ;)))

Luxury, DBS – 16 March 2014
Sounds like a plan!!!!! ;))))

Christianne Shieh, DMS – 16 March 2014
-facepalms-

The Agent, DIC – 16 March 2014
Don’t we all agree that Morgan was perfect as Rassilon-Caesar?

Geoffrey Carver, DOI – 16 March 2014
Agreed! She was wonderful as Pinterest and Stratosphere, too. You were also really good as Trombone!

The Disentangler, DIC – 16 March 2014
I think you meant Pindarus, Strato, and Trebonius. Thanks anyway.

The Disentangler, DIC – 16 March 2014
Get off my account, Agent.

Fearn, DTO – 16 March 2014
YOU TIME LORDS ARE SO DYSFUNCTIONAL THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO STAB EACH OTHER. RASSILON-CAESAR REGENERATING INTO PINDARUS AND STRATO AMUSED ME GREATLY. CLEARLY THIS PRODUCTION IS PROOF OF THE SUPERIORITY OF THE DALEKS.

Kate Lynn, DoDAEG – 16 March 2014
That was a wonderful adaptation of Julius Caesar. It was my favourite play in high school and to see it done by my fellow Agents was a real treat. Though, I do notice that the Time Lord actors really can’t seem to find a separation between their onstage and offstage drama, since Casca (the Disentangler) tried to stab Mark Antony (the Notary) halfway through Act III and had to be dragged off by Trebonius (the Agent).

John Naki, DoDAEG – 16 March 2014
I told them at every single rehearsal that they needed to stop bickering all the time, but noooooo...

Officer Rooney, DOI – 17 March 2014
Hey, Naki, could you tell us who played Titinius? I’ve got a bet with Jeeves that they’re actually a Gary Stu, given the way they got Cassius to die for them.

T’Lyra, DAVD – 17 March 2014
Only Cassius was affected by his Aura, not anyone else. Titinius cannot be a Stu.

Brenda Loringham, DMS – 17 March 2014
You’re right about Titinius, Rooney, everything he does in the play just screams of Stu! He randomly appears out of nowhere in act IV, says basically nothing until his death scene in act V, and yet apparently he’s Cassius’s best friend who loves him—a title that I could’ve sworn was Brutus’s—and somehow important enough for Cassius to commit suicide over him. If he came up on my console, I would charge and kill him so hard.

T’Lyra, DAVD – 17 March 2014
This lack of lines is precisely why he cannot be a Stu. A Stu would take over the entire play. Titinius is simply a plothole in the background.

T’Zar, DOGA – 17 March 2014
Indeed. While he does possess various Stu-like characteristics, he is simply not sufficiently prevalent to be a true Gary Stu.

Dawn McKenna, DMS – 17 March 2014
Like Agent Kate Lynn, Julius Caesar was one of my favourite plays as a kid. I was especially delighted by the choice of the Fisherman as Cinna the Poet—he took to it with such enthusiasm, and even led an army of poets onstage just before the curtain call! Cinna the Conspirator (Evie)’s participation in that particular scene was pretty hilarious.
I could go on and on about all of this—Jacques as Calpurnia, the Notary’s butchering of Mark Antony (just kidding, that definitely had its moments), Brutus and Cassius (believe me, I had no idea my ex-partner could act so well!)—but I want to express my ... well, confusion, really, about a certain character: Titinius. He had almost no lines, came out of nowhere, and became Cassius’ best friend! It made very little sense, honestly. And not only that—the actor who played him never turned up for the casting reveal! What exactly is going on with that?
Who is Titinius? Where did he come from? And who played him?

Gurnirel, SIELU – 18 March 2014
I enjoyed the performance; however, I cannot help but wonder how different our own history might have been shaped had there only been put into action a plot to stab Morgoth while we yet resided in Valinor. Fëanáro could perhaps have been a worthy Cassius.

Naergondir, SIELU – 18 March 2014
And yet, sister, I believe that Morgoth—then Melkor—would have been more suited, indeed, for the role of Cassius. For did he not turn Fëanáro’s mind to jealousy concerning the Silmarilli, and thus ensure the downfall of the Two Trees and of the Ñoldor? Melkor's tongue could sway one such as a Fëanáro: hot of temper, sharp of mind, and never-straying once plighted to his course.

Gurnirel, SIELU – 18 March 2014
It may well be, brother, but who then would be Caesar? Perhaps Finwë?

Naergondir, SIELU – 18 March 2014
Perhaps. Although I would indeed name Nolofinwë in his father's stead; for Fëanáro loved him not. And still more, dear sister: Julius Caesar deals not with the turning of a son against a father, and thus Finwë Caesar I would not cast. Hamlet, perhaps, could see such casting...

Eledhwen Elerossiel, DMS – 18 March 2014
If the two of you wish to see a production of Julius Caesar set in Arda, please discuss this with the members of A Troupe By Any Other Name in RC 1564 and/or Cubicle 221B Bakery Avenue. 

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Notes: Thank you to DawnFire for helping me with this! Apologies to basically everyone who’s created a Time Lord Agent for wrangling them into the production without permission, but if you’re not okay with it, we can just consider it a reporting error (they had another disguise under their disguise. or something).

Also posted here.