In this re-imagination of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, our focus turns to the tragic tale of Portia’s story.
In this re-interpretation of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, playwright Kaitlyn Riordan shines the spotlight on Portia, wife of Brutus. Like the women of the play itself, it’s easy to overlook the ordeal they experience throughout the original play. The women of Shakespeare’s version are repeatedly ignored by their male counterparts, and in turn, we tend to ignore their part in the progression of the play. Portia’s Julius Caesar rectifies that – in his world, we cannot ignore the women because this is their story.
With subtle nods to modernity, the women of Portia’s Julius Caesar stay true to their Shakespearean vernacular, with a quip or two of contemporary language sprinkled in. It’s whimsical and unaffected, pairing well with the Space’s rustic theatre. With thumping present-day music taking us from one act to the next, an eerie soundscape and an impressive cast of women playing multiple characters, this production was an enjoyable watch. Some of the performers fell prey to the Shakespearian demonstrative-style in which all lines seem to be delivered with a gusto that lacks considering of the underlying message of these famed words. Consideration of the text itself as opposed to the overarching concept of both the play and message seemed to be lacking somewhat. This created certain performances that felt one-note and lacking an arc – the stakes for Portia may be high throughout the play, but they certainly ramp up towards the close of the piece, something that was not entirely discernible based on performance alone.
Nonetheless, the cast did an excellent job honing the accessibility of the text; those unfamiliar with Shakespeare would have had an easy time understanding the story. The cast deftly changed characters, one small costume element prompting an entirely new persona. The play carefully shaved down the many acts of the original to a piece that ran a little over 90 minutes without sacrificing any of the narrative arc that pertained to Portia’s experience. Themes such as infertility and women’s rights are present in Shakespeare’s original text but are not given much thought. It was incredibly exciting to see them given the attention they deserve, as the women of Shakespeare themselves are worthy of too.
If you enjoy seeing Shakespeare unlike you’ve seen it before, quirky dance parties, women-forward narratives, and unwavering direct eye contact with performers, Portia’s Julius Caesar at the Space is most definitely worth the watch for you.