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Stratford Review: Plummer's Caesar leads great cast!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Caesar and Cleopatra. Christopher Plummer as Caesar and Nikki M. James as Cleopatra. Photo: David Hou.
Caesar and Cleopatra. Christopher Plummer (left) as Caesar and Peter Donaldson (right) as Rufio, with members of the company. Photo: David Hou.
Caesar and Cleopatra. Christopher Plummer as Caesar and Nikki M. James as Cleopatra. Photo: David Hou.
I have been eagerly looking forward to sharing an evening with Christopher Plummer since first hearing that the renowned actor would be appearing at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival this season. I saw Mr. Plummer perform King Lear during the 2002 50th anniversary season, and it forever changed the way I see theatre and art. A chance to see the great man on stage again promised to be a rare treat.
But watching him perform the role of Julius Caesar in George Bernard Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra was a totally different experience than I had with Lear. After all, this is a comedy, and although there is serious drama here, it is of a totally different flavour. Plummer is more one of the cast in this play and it is more about timing and interaction than sheer force of will.
Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra tells the story of an aging Caesar who comes to Egypt in pursuit of Pompey, his friend and son-in-law, but also a rival for dominance in Rome. When he arrives in the land of the Pharohs, he meets the 16-year-old Cleopatra and is drawn into the succession struggle that has broken out between the young queen and her 10-year-old brother, Ptolemy, following the death of their father. Caesar takes Cleopatra under his political wing and tries to show her how to be a great queen and not the frightened and immature child he meets in the desert as the play opens.
Stratford productions almost always have strong casts, a testament to the talent pool within the acting company. And this play has the added advantage of having a couple of ringers – Christopher Plummer remains a giant of the stage, even as he grows older. His delivery is so incredibly smooth and seamless and he is so at ease within his character. When he appears on stage, he is Julius Caesar – there is no thought that you are seeing an actor perform a role. He moves quickly and easily between light-hearted banter and deadly serious He can be funny, but he can also be terribly serious.
Nikki M. James plays a wonderful Cleopatra. In the opening scenes, she is totally and completely the immature and spoiled young woman that the character calls for, but throughout the play, you watch as she literally grows into the part and becomes more the woman who will rule Egypt in the years to come. James is a refreshing addition to the Stratford stage, demonstrating huge energy and enthusiasm for her role.
Peter Donaldson was, as usual, terrifically strong in the role of Rufio, Caesar's chief officer. Donaldson is chameleon-like in his ability to take on roles at Stratford. No matter what I see him in, I am suitably impressed with the strength of his performance. Steven Sutcliffe is really good as the slave Britannus, Caesar's secretary. He is, of course, British in the role, and there are shades of John Cleese a couple of times – very funny stuff.
Diane D'Aquila was good as Cleopatra's nurse, Ftatateeta, and Timothy D. Stickney did a great job as Pothinus, the young Ptolemy's guardian. Again, just a great cast doing some great work with some great writing – the quick and witty exchanges that Shaw is noted for more than evident.
This is a really good piece of theatre, one that pulled me in at the beginning, when Caesar is walking alone in the Egyptian desert, to the end, when he leaves and the play is ended. It moves quickly with great pacing and there are no weak spots. Do yourself a favour and see this production – Christopher Plummer is always good and this is a great cast all around. Enjoy this great man while you still can. It's worth so much more than the price of admission.
