Julius Caesar (The Public Theater)

See it if You usually have a hard time with Shakespeare, the contemporary setting of this helps to make it more clear and understandable-and relevant!

Don't see it if If you hate Shakespeare. As good as this is, it's still two plus hours of a play you'll probably hate, wondering what they're talking about.

See it if you like Shakespeare that is contextualized in modern day to provide contemporary relevance. Committed performances by great cast.

Don't see it if Shakespeare plays are too slow for you, you're a Trump supporter who inaccurately believes this production is glorifying assassination

See it if You enjoy well made Shakespeare even if you don't like the subject matter. I saw this before all the hype blew it out of proportion.

Don't see it if This is not my favorite Shakespeare play. It just isn't, and no matter how good the production was, I'm just never going to love this play.

See it if A terrific new take on a classic. Having Antony played by Elizabeth Marvel was a genius stroke.

Don't see it if Those who complain about this show are missing the point. Its message is staunchly anti-violence. If you're stupid, you won't get it.

Also I have a lot to say about this show. First of all, it is definitely about Trump. There is no doubt of that. Everything is there - the pussy hats, the Slavic model-perfect wife, the red hats - even some actual pussy-grabbing. The references are many and unmistakeable.

However, to complain about this is to miss the point entirely. This show demonstrates how easily a crowd is swayed, and how sometimes, that crowd reaction can lead to violence. First Caesar does it; then Brutus; finally, Antony. And let me say here, as an aside, that Elizabeth Marvel knocks Antony's famous speech out of the park. It was genius to have a woman, with all the unbridled emotion that implies, playing that role.

But the play shows the wrongness of political violence, even with the best if intentions. Every character loves their country; they just have different ideas about what is best for it.... Read more Read less

See it if Gregg Henry and Nikki James were wonderful. You want to see more of Trump. Cell phones and Shakespeare are not an oxymoron to you.

Don't see it if You dont like modernized, smirky, gender blind casting. You want an intermission in 2 1/4 hours. Boring sets, noninformative costumes.

See it if would enjoy an updated to the times version of Julius Caesar

Don't see it if want to see something lighthearted or are trying to escape the every day realities of todays political issues.

See it if you're interested in the whole debate about artistic expression and censorship.

Don't see it if you'd be offended at the depiction of Trump being killed.

Also While I don't think this really worked (playing in NYC, Trump is seen too much as a definitively evil person to really be a Caesar-like character), I do think this whole thing about pulling funds to the Public is ridiculous. The fact that people are talking about it is kind of the point. I think supporting the arts means supporting the arts, no matter what the art ends up being. I do not think this glorified the killing of "Trump" in any way. I had issues with it purely because it's better to have a Caesar who could be viewed as evil and authoritarian, but also possibly a great leader. The audience should question if the conspirators were even right in trying to remove him from power at all. I find it very hypocritical that having an Obama-like Caesar (which does intellectually work better) was fine, but a Trump-like one is a problem. I hope people will stand up for this production as an opposition to censorship.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a modern take on the classic. It's unreal how accurate it is to current events without changing language.

Don't see it if you don't like interactive theater. Cast members act from the audience often and you might sometimes feel surrounded.

See it if you want to see what the fuss is about.

Don't see it if you are not down with the Shakespeare in the Park experience.

Also Overall, I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. The Trump conceit is clever, although it isn't always completely successful. Gregg Henry is wonderful, as is Elizabeth Marvel, who I think has been given some odd direction. All in all, I'm really glad I got to see it. And for Shakespeare, this wasn't too difficult to follow!... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in current political news and, of course, if you enjoy seeing live theater in the beautiful surroundings of The Delacorte

Don't see it if you don't like plays with violence...

See it if you can obtain a ticket at this late date. A rare treat from the company that reinvented Shakespeare, this production comes close to reality

Don't see it if you are a die-heart Republican or swear that Trump will save the country.

See it if you want to see Julius Caesar presented in a smart, relatable way

Don't see it if If you're a Trump supporter

Also I was there the Friday night when the protests took place. It was lovely to see it handled so well and when the actors picked up their lines at "freedom and liberty" the crowd went wild! so nice to see how 'art' can start a dialogue and yes, even provoke :)... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy making Shakespeare exceptionally relevant to today. Also if you like clever send-ups of Trump & Melania.

Don't see it if you like your Shakespeare to be thoroughly explored. And all the actors to understand what they are saying and not just playing "glib".

Also I thought that the concept was exceptionally clever, but I felt like the actual play was given short shrift in order to make it more Trumpian.
That said, I enjoyed Gregg Henry & Tina Benko's performances immensely, as well as some of Elizabeth Marvel's Antony. Her "Brutus was an honorable man" speech was good, but her sorrow over Brutus' death came out of nowhere.
Unlike when the RSC performed JC at the Park Ave Armory a few years ago, I wanted every one of the characters to die, sooner rather than later. I hated everyone, which is not how I prefer my JC. I would rather feel conflicted. This production made me want to finish everyone off as soon as possible.
But I am glad I went and it is not the worst production I have ever seen by a long shot!... Read more Read less

See it if you like modern re-stagings, great use of extras.

Don't see it if you can't get over Trump-as-Caesar. The metaphor didn't really work for me.

See it if you like like modernized versions of Shakespeare.

Don't see it if you don't like Trump being lampooned.

See it if Well-done despite stunt/trump casting brouhaha and annoying hecklers at the production we saw on 6/16. Corey Stoll very good as Brutus.

Don't see it if Bring a seat cushion. Over two hours and no intermission.

See it if you generally enjoy SITP and, well-acted and well-spoken lively updated interpretations of classics.

Don't see it if you don't like modernized versions of Shakespeare plays, or Shakespeare in the Park.

See it if you want to see an updated take on Caesar taking current headlines as its basis.Some terrific cast members who make the darker elements work

Don't see it if you don't want to see Caesar as Trump, or to watch the play feel like an extended SNL skit. Never boring and ambitious take but odd to watch

Also a big gamble on this very ambitious take with Caesar as Trump and while I get the reasoning, it doesn't always quite work since the first half is so silly and comedic it felt like an SNL skit that never quite shakes itself off when it moves to the darker elements. Corey Stoll, Elizabeth Marvel, Nikki M James amongst some of the cast that make the darker elements work well though. Never boring though.... Read more Read less

See it if You are openminded about seeing classic Shakespeare set in modern times.

Don't see it if You are unable to contextualize.

See it if You want to see a modern and relevant take on Julius Caesar that challenges your political opinions

Don't see it if If are overwhelmed by the political climate and don't want it to bleed into your theater experience

See it if you enjoy fresh takes on classic works; you want to think critically about our current world and how politics never seem to change

Don't see it if you do not want to mix politics and performance; you need a production that feels constantly active

See it if you love seeing a Shakespeare that accessible. And if you love seeing the past reflected in the present.

Don't see it if you dislike any Shakespeare that is updated or cast in a novel way.

See it if you have any interest in current events, certainly, or, better yet, you aren't much of a Shakespeare person but are open to seeing it fresh.

Don't see it if you can't see the forest for the trees or don't understand the concept of a parable. You want to stay as far from politics as possible.

See it if You want to see the hottest ticket in New York, and you watch the news each day with growing dread.

Don't see it if If you're a die-hard partisan of either side of the aisle.

Also This Caesar is much more nuanced than the coverage it received, but contains problematic political messaging. I speak not of the idea of Caesar as Trump, which works effectively at showing the complexities of Caesar's relationship to the characters and to Rome, in a way that illuminates President's Trump relationship to his fervent followers. I take more issue to his opposition: all of the conspirators, with the exception of Brutus, are cast as PoCs, making the first half of the play an argument where the PoCs are trying to convince the One White Man to join them and killing Caesar. Later, the armies are nothing but: they are peaceful protesters being mowed down by the police state. Thus, Eutis's commentary on state violence is much grander than "don't kill the president," much less "isn't Trump the worst?" It's a complex portrait for a complex time. Unfortunately, if the media coverage is to be taken seriously, this effort is wasted on an audience without an ear for nuance.... Read more Read less

See it if A modern version of Trump-like Julius Caesar set for today's times. Well performed and staged.

Don't see it if Modernized Shakespeare. A little too literal would prefer to make connections myself.