'Julius Caesar' is a woman

Article by: WILLIAM RANDALL BEARD
Updated: April 23, 2012 - 2:57 PM

REVIEW: The all-female cast aside, Theatre Unbound stages a traditional "Julius Caesar."

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In Shakespeare's day, all the roles were played by men. In its current production of "Julius Caesar," Theatre Unbound flips that coin, with all the roles played by women. Otherwise, director Carin Bratlie staged a decidedly traditional production, with an ancient Roman colonnade set and toga costumes.

Bratlie changed none of the language, not even the gender references. She simply staged the play with great insight and a passionate commitment to making the language sing.

Noë Tallen made the most of the opportunity. She played the indecisive Brutus as a prototype of Hamlet, the play written soon after. Kirby Bennett made Caesar a character of supreme strength and nobility.

Katherine Kupiecki was less successful as Marc Antony, making the character more of a prig than he needed to be. But Katie Willer had the "lean and hungry look" of the cunning and manipulative Cassius.

There were new insights in the gender-bending casting. Actually, the production seemed to negate the question of gender altogether. The strong performances and competent direction created a production that will intrigue both "Julius Caesar" aficionados and newcomers.

JULIUS CAESAR

What: By William Shakespeare. Directed by Carin Bratlie.

When: 7:30 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun through May 6, 7:30 Wed. April 25.

Where: The Lowry Lab Theater, 350 St. Peter St., St. Paul.

Tickets: $15, 612-721-1186.