F By Sara Jarrett
I Ofepn^^ermid j)|
There are certain universal
elements that don't change
overtime. Robert Barton realized
political maneuvering is one of
them as he began contemplating
v I his next Shakespeare directorial
Stint , /\ _
Tire theater arts professor decid
t. ed that '‘fulipillaesar ” with its fo
cus cm ambition and the politics of
war, is a timeless classic that
would work in many different set
That’s why the play can so
dene in a current time
said.
50th mmves&ary season on Nov. 5,
^Julius Caesar*" will he produced
in modem dress with a Stream
lined version of Shakespeare’s
language. While the play will
amine the wav a country selects
those who govern, Barton said, it
will also be a contemporary look
at our own election process, just
as the 2000 U.S, presidential
campaign picks up steam.
' s ' Barton has also cast many of
the politicians and soldiers
pi eviousiy played by men
with women. The original
script actually calls for only two women
roles.
The six newly-elected female officials
in Arizona influenced Barton’s decision
to change the sexes of some of the char
acters, The role-reversal is not only an ac
ceptable thing to do on a politically ac
tive campus, he pointed out, but
accurately reflects the societal landscape
of modern times.
The director also cut out sixteen char
acters from the original version and all
but five actors in tins production are be
ing asked to play two foies. Shake
speare’s version is filled with countless
characters that don’t make a substantial
contribution to its content, Barton said.
Barton’s credentials for directing
Shakespeare are plentiful. As a profes
sional, he acted in most of Shakespeare’s
plays and then went on tQ direct fourteen
or fifteen more, including “Two Gentle
men of Verona” at the University in 1998.
" The mounting of the play received a
grant from the American College Theatre
that allowed the cast to tour throughout
Oregon the same year. The production
also won an unprecedented nine awards
from die American College Theatre Fes
tival during its venture.
'‘Two Gentlemen of Verona” will be re
built on this campus Feb. 2000.
Robinson Theatre’s season is decided
by a selection committee made up of
both faculty and graduate and under
graduate student representatives. They
try to “alternate musicals with Shake
speare plays every other year,” said
Joseph Gilg, development director for the
theater arts department.
As a general rule, Gilg noted, the com
mittee tries to keep a broad spectrum of
time and place over the course of four
years so students can get the greatest
eclectic, educational experience at the
University as possible.
“Julius Caesar” opens Friday night
with an 8 p.m. performance. Other
evening performances are Nov. 6, Nov.
11-13 and Nov. 19-20. There is a 2 p.m.
matinee Nov. 14.
Tickets are $10 for the general public;
$8 for senior citizens, University faculty
and staff, and non-University students;
and $5 for University students. On Nov.
11, University students can purchase
tickets for $4. Tickets can be purchased
at the Hult Center, the EMU and the
Robinson Theatre box offices.
For the Nov. 14 matinee, tickets are
$10 for adults and $5 for students
through the Camp Fire Boys and Girls, as
a benefit for that organization. Call 342
6338 for information on tickets for that
performance.
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