SHAKESPEARE@
presents
The Third Production of Their All Free Radio Play Season
The Four-Episode Production

JULIUS CAESAR
By WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Starring PATRICK PAGE

Featuring
JORDAN BARBOUR, KEITH HAMILTON COBB, SKY LAKOTA-LYNCH,
JAMIE BALLARD, JAMES HOWARD, JONATHAN FORBES,
ARIA SHAGHASEMI, ASHLIE ATKINSON, THIA STEPHAN,
& DAVID HARGREAVES

Directed by SEAN HAGERTY

Original Music by JOAN MELTON
Sound Design by the Emmy-winning team of DAN GERHARD & ELLEN FITTON of SONIC DESIGNS

www.shakespeare-at.org.

February 22, 2021 7 p.m. EST
March 1, 8, & 15, 2021 7 p.m. EST

Julius Caesar, larger-than-life in history as well as in fiction, returns to Rome after his triumph in battle. While the masses roar their approval, Roman Tribunes Marullus and Flavius murmur between themselves. They fear that the adulation will change Caesar into a despot. A shouting soothsayer is the only fly in Caesar’s soup. “Beware the Ides of March!” Heady with glory, Caesar ignores him.

The word gets out. The Senate will declare Caesar king the next day. In the dark of night, during a violent storm, the conspirators gather to anxiously discuss what they will do and how they will do it.

As morning dawns, Portia confronts her husband, Brutus. Her intuition has kicked in. She pleads with him to reveal what’s agitating him. Caesar’s wife is, figuratively, on the same page. She cries out in her sleep, then begs Caesar to stay home today, the Ides of March. She has seen horrid omens everywhere. Finally he gives in to her pleas, then is cleverly flattered out of that decision. Pride goeth before the fall, no?

Shakespeare@ has done an awesome job with this production. The sound effects are perfect, as is the interlude music composed by JOAN MELTON. The actors evoke so much emotion for the listener. Radio theater has the advantage of giving the listener’s brain free reign to imagine all things visual. Just close your eyes, listen, and enjoy the rich voices.

The two ladies were standouts in this section of the drama. ASHLIE ATKINSON as Portia and THIA STEPHAN as Calpurnia evoked incredible emotion as loving wives who are terrified that something dreadful is about to happen. The listener can feel the love and fear in their hearts.

-Karen D’Onofrio-