Lumina Studio Theatre's adaptation of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, set in feudal Japan
Reviewed by Stewart Hickman
What happens to a head of state who has grown to love his power, who is insatiably ambitious, who subverts the law to achieve his aims, and whose arrogance makes him impervious to critique? To answer this question, you might need to know the context. For instance, are we talking about a 21st century democracy, feudal Japan or ancient Rome?
If the context is Lumina Studio Theatre's recent rendition of Shogun Caesar, the head of state is a female Samurai, and the timeless themes of Shakespeare's play allow the audience to explore power and politics, rhetoric and revolution through all the ages.
What happens to those youth who mount this extraordinary interpretation of the great Bard, with magical Japanese Noh theatre choreography, flashing katana fight sequences, and haunting Bunraku puppets? They love it. And so does the audience.
Reviewed by Stewart Hickman
What happens to a head of state who has grown to love his power, who is insatiably ambitious, who subverts the law to achieve his aims, and whose arrogance makes him impervious to critique? To answer this question, you might need to know the context. For instance, are we talking about a 21st century democracy, feudal Japan or ancient Rome?If the context is Lumina Studio Theatre's recent rendition of Shogun Caesar, the head of state is a female Samurai, and the timeless themes of Shakespeare's play allow the audience to explore power and politics, rhetoric and revolution through all the ages.
What happens to those youth who mount this extraordinary interpretation of the great Bard, with magical Japanese Noh theatre choreography, flashing katana fight sequences, and haunting Bunraku puppets? They love it. And so does the audience.
Continue reading Shogun Caesar.
