Julius Caesar (The Public Theater) NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (171)
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 want to see what all the fuss is about.
Don't see it if you can't handle anything political. Read more
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 are openminded about seeing classic Shakespeare set in modern times.
Don't see it if You are unable to contextualize.
See it if You don't mind contemporary staging of a play set in Ancient Rome. You enjoy Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater.
Don't see it if Hot or wet conditions bother you: we saw someone faint from the heat and the show was stopped! Extra drama at no additional charge!
See it if you are interested in seeing how Shakespeare's plays have a direct relevance to the contemporary moment.
Don't see it if you're a big Trump supporter not much given to seeing your man sent up on stage.
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 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.
Critic Reviews (38)
"This heavy-handed, uncomfortable and unnecessary stroke of provocation on the part of Eustis turns what might have otherwise been a decent production into a jumbled mess...Notwithstanding, the production contains great performances from Stoll and Thompson...Any worthwhile production of 'Julius Caesar' will prompt an audience to ponder its own political realities...Eustis should have trusted that his audience could draw its own parallels."
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“Regardless of the politics involved, here's the big question: Is it entertaining? The answer: a most unequivocal yes...The performances are exceptionally strong. John Douglas Thompson is a forcefully animated Cassius. Gregg Henry does a mean Trump imitation as the nakedly ambitious Caesar - quite literally. In a twist of casting, Marc Antony is played by the always marvelous Elizabeth Marvel with a decidedly Southern twang. And Corey Stoll's brooding Brutus is most excellent."
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"Shakespeare never shied away from thinly veiled allusions to his contemporaries...In that sense, Eustis' heavy-handed approach is spiritually a lot closer to the original than any toga and sandals staging...Eustis makes his production feel exhilarating, vital, and just a bit dangerous...The lead players also make these mythic historical figures feel present and tangible...Of course, we must suspend our disbelief in important ways to fully embrace Caesar as a cautionary tale for our time."
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“Making Caesar a buffoon—a doppelganger for the president who, in all likelihood, is loathed by virtually everyone in attendance at the Delacorte—changes the play's stakes and muddies its intent...This is too bad because, much of the time, this 'Julius Caesar' is clearly, powerfully staged, facilitated by one of the best casts to appear in the Delacorte in some time—and that's saying something…The entire cast scores in roles large and small...This ‘Julius Caesar’ has plenty to offer.”
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"Eustis abandons any pretense of subtlety in a bread-and-circuses approach...Once the Trump lampoon is abandoned, the tone becomes more serious. Corey Stoll is the most centered of the performers...The rest of the large cast is quite strong...It is hard to say how 'Julius Caesar' would have fared without the silliness in the first half of the production, but the cautionary tale against the possibility of anarchy comes through loud and clear."
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"Although the metaphor doesn't pan out completely, it surely makes for one wild and wooly evening of theater...The acting is mostly strong...Whether or not you give a thumbs up—or down to Mr. Eustis on making Trump a stand-in for Caesar, you've got to hand it to him for mounting a 'Julius Caesar' that is larger-than-life and robust. Politically correct or not, his 'Julius Caesar' is sure to linger in people's memories long after its final performance in Central Park."
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"An intense, thought-provoking production...A number of terrific performances. Most notably John Douglas Thompson...'Julius Caesar' can be difficult to sit through. Though laden with memorable, oft-quoted lines, it lacks the moments of levity so prominent in Shakespeare’s other tragedies, and the heaviness of the political message can drag...But this version moves quickly enough and feels very thorough, making it a solid, well-produced show that should please first-timers."
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“A ho-hum production that has so many wink-wink elements stuffed into it that it becomes unbalanced...Stoll handles the role of Brutus with an easy grace that is deceptive. He makes it look easy…The rest of the cast does not fare so well. John Douglas Thompson‘s delivery is stiff...Eustis has stuffed this production with crowds and chaos and clamber to within an inch of its life. It is packed so full that the skeleton of the story is overshadowed.”
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