Julius Caesar

I’m always thinking about how a classical work resonates with us today: how do I as a contemporary American see myself in this play about Ancient Rome? The play is called Julius Caesar but (spoiler alert) he is assassinated in the first third of the play. The person I’m drawn to is Brutus: a thoughtful, intelligent person of deep integrity and conscience who truly loves his country but who becomes convinced that the only way to save his beloved republic is through violence. Brutus believes he can logically “argue” away the assassination of a dangerous leader, a potential tyrant. But once he’s committed himself to violence, he can’t retract or pull back; there is only one way forward, and it’s a fatal path. Brutus could be any of us today in our deeply divided society who believe ourselves to be people of honor and integrity, and who want to live in a free and just society. What might we do if, like Brutus, we are faced with the possibility of tyranny? How will we find a path forward, free of violence?

An ensemble of powerful women and nonbinary people helps to draw our attention to the male-dominated political landscape that continues to shape the world we live in. The casting turns the Elizabethan convention of men playing all the roles on its head while creating opportunities for female and nonbinary actors in the company to stretch their craft and to play powerful roles they do not usually get to take on. As with all my work with upstart crow, this production invites an audience to expand its notion of who gets to tell these stories on stage and what “universal” means in a classical play.

I have to confess that I did not read or see Julius Caesar until later in life. Believe it or not, I was never assigned to read it in high school, college, or even grad school! I only knew it by reputation as a rather “dry” play with some really brilliant speeches—and a lot of senators with confusing names. But as I got to know the play through my own reading and watching some fantastic productions (a few of which I saw here at OSF), I’ve discovered that it’s a riveting story, filled with intrigue and suspense, fast-paced action, and life-and-death consequences. It’s a political thriller, a dynamic, deeply psychological play about loyalty, betrayal, and courage—a moving argument for us to pay attention to current events, to watch for signs and to grapple with our consciences. It’s a play about who we are, that asks us who we want to become.

—Rosa Joshi