Assassination, betrayal, politics—“Julius Caesar” has a lot of potential, but in this modern retelling, the audience is left looking for the heart of the production. The story is familiar; Caesar rises to power after a successful military campaign. But the people’s wish to crown him king threatens the new republic. Senators, including Cassius and Brutus, […]
A Shakespeare tragedy filled with death and madness isn’t supposed to be funny, is it? Think again. Even in a dark drama like “Hamlet,” the Bard’s sharp wit keeps poking at us. The jokes really are there, if the actors are allowed to deliver them. Director Michael Halberstam brings a playful touch to his interpretation […]
Shakespeare explored the dream realm as it pranks the real world in his perennial favorite, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Chicago Shakespeare Director Gary Griffin updates the story’s era to the 1920s and lumps in Sigmund Freud’s dream analysis for good measure. For those who never read it high school, here’s the plot: In the real […]
