Reader Reviews
Julius Caesar (Menier Theatre, Outer London)
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 | I was dragged along to Cannon Mouth's production of 'Julius Caesar' by a friend who's a big fan of Shakespeare. I'm not. Really. At school I saw too many velvet-costumed productions which bored me witless. Pantomime dowagers without the laughs, and people taking themselves far too seriously. Imagine my surprise when I discovered I was enjoying this show. Enjoying it immensely! According to the programme, the entire cast are recent graduates from London's premier drama schools. And this shows: the cast is very good. And it's youthful and energetic. No gout-ridden knees or quavering voices here. And these attributes give the show a sense of life and palpable excitement which by far the majority of shows I'd seen before lacked. And, throughout, the story is clear. Even the two 8-year-olds sitting in front of us watched in rapt silence, and managed to recount the goings-on to their companion afterwards with total accuracy. The staging is inventive and visually very pleasing, especially in the second half when Rome starts crumbling. Hats off to Cannon's Mouth, director Ben Naylor and the entire cast and crew of this sharp. memorable Julius Caesar. Joanne Norton, Islington, London - USER: Whatsonstage.com (217.44.102.208) | 22 Mar 04 |
