An all-female production of "Julius Caesar" in Hoboken
by Carly
Cassius (Madeleine Pramik) and Antony (Kimberly DiPersia) face off in one of the play's sword fighting scenes.
Hudson Shakespeare will perform an all-female production of "Julius Caesar" in Hoboken and Union City next month.
Performances (all of which are free) will be:
Monday, August 4, 7 p.m. in Shipyard Park, Hoboken
Thursday, August 7, 8 p.m in Ellsworth Park, Union City
Monday, August 11, 7 p.m. in Sinatra Park, Hoboken
Monday, August 18, 7 p.m. in Sinatra Park, Hoboken
Why use an all-female cast?
"We don't try to have the women imitate men or present some sort stylized caricature or even a lesbian bent", says show director Jon Ciccarelli. "But play it as women themselves going through these situations. I feel that gender differences are often exaggerated in pop culture and that men and women are much closer in their thinking and behavior than one would think by watching Oprah or Dr. Phil."
Courtesy of the Hudson Shakespeare Company
The play's assassination scene. Caesar, played by Vivienne Maya, holds her ground, center, as the conspirators gathered around are ready to pounce.
Ciccarelli's play is an abridged, two-hour take on Shakespeare's classic tale -- Caesar (played by Vivienne Maya), the conquering Emperor, returns to Rome with much fanfare and glory, but a coup to overthrow him (her?) is brewing between Brutus (Jennifer Foche) and Cassius (Madeleine Parmik).
"'The energy is very different with an all-women cast," says Ciccarelli. "Interestingly enough, when it comes to sword fighting the actors displaying the most testosterone are usually the women."
link to on-line article here
