Ralph Fiennes Fan Stories and Reviews of Julius Caesar                           Next Page>2

Jasmine- Julius Caesar first preview - PLOT AND OTHER SPOILERS - 04/17/05
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Just back - play finished at 11.20! - but it's going to be trimmed significantly during previews.

This won't be a considered review obviously...more a stream of consciousness of first impressions...

It's huge. Titanic performances from all of the leads - like watching a bunch of T-Rexes fight to the death whilst the universe implodes around them. Shattering noise, props and scenery literally falling from the sky like fallout from a bomb.

Two deeply anguished performances from SRB as Cassius and Anton Lesser as Brutus. The former tortured beyond endurance by bitter, twisting jealousy (each cheer from the crowd for Caesar twists him like the knife in the guts that he ultimately invites). SRB so clear - exemplary verse speaking, and so much more. Brutus agonised by his need to do the right thing, to try to protect his beloved republic; his anguished thoughts all over his face. Both brilliant.

The crowd - mad and raw as expected. Fantastic Lupercal scene. They need some work, but they'll get it.

Deeply moving scene between Portia and Brutus as she tries and fails to find out what is wrong with him. Beautiful performance from Fiona Shaw. I remembered her rehearsal diary where she said she had in mind the widow of David Kelly trying and failing to comfort him; watching it tonight brought tears to my eyes.

And now...Ralph! You won't believe your eyes at his entrance. Forget all preconceptions you have of Mark Antony; this is not a conventional production. His first costume is what I think is meant to be running gear (complete with transparent singlet), but was actually powerfully reminiscent of Freddie Mercury!- one of the few things which I didn't think worked (along with the music at the end, as Ralph stares at the body of Brutus: the wrong music entirely). He's the celebrity general; dives around the crowd, kissing the odd extra (oh yes), lapping up adoration, fussing over Caesar. So all the bigger contrast after Caesar is murdered and he has a job to do - he has to win over the crowd. Delivers his big speech absolutely brilliantly, plays the crowd like an expert fly-fisher, only the stakes are so high. Another tremendous performance - he doesn't have so much to do as the others but he does it well.

And....NOT BALD! A decent covering of hair. And as Caesar (John Shrapnel, also terrific) refers approvingly to "sleek-headed men", he strokes his head - of course, that's why!

Smoke, blood, chaos, clamour...all suggest the earth shifting on its axis as they all slug it out. And I did think of our current leaders, and Iraq, but not for long. The set encourages this though. Shimmering desert heat.

Warm applause and some cheering at the end.

Hugely expensive programme (£4! - even the seller looked embarrassed). Haven't read it yet but it includes photos of Bush and Blair as well as one nice one of Ralph having his head mopped. Pictures of soldiers in Iraq too...a couple which have been directly copied in the play.

It isn't perfect. Nor is it like any JC you've ever seen before! It's a very difficult play - I really, really urge you to read it, or at least a synopsis of it, before you see it. But it's a massive production.

Don't do stage doors, Rosie, unless I'm visiting someone! - but we passed it and there appeared to be about a dozen people waiting. I expect that will grow.

I hope that's a start, anyway. (edited to delete a word that wasn't meant to be there)

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Isabella's Press Night - 04-21-05

Went to see it last night and Lauren Bacall walked right past me and my friend! And David Schwimmer and Saffron Burrows stood next to us at the bar! I suppose Saffron was there to support her friend Fiona Shaw. I'm sure I saw Sophie Fiennes there too. ANd someone who looked amazingly like Jake Gyllenhall, but maybe that was just wishful thinking! Lauren Bacall is TINY! Jasmine, I loved it! I was thrilled from the very start. The energy on stage with the crowd was fantastic and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up! I thought the first half more engaging than the second, but that often happens, doesn't it, with JC? Interestingly I found myself paying more attention to Cassius than Anthony. This is odd, since usually I can't take my eyes off Ralph! This time I found SRB totally mesmerising. I would have loved to have seen Paul Rhys's Brutus, but Anton Lesser was a good substitute. Really did give a different take on the character. I did find myself rooting for Cassius and Brutus over Anthony, which surprised me. Sorry, not a very coherent review! I thought the set was magnificent and loved the glass screens. I loved Portia's costumes! And the lighting in part two, with the orange light and the smoke through the door was fab. I loved (have I used that word enough yet?!) the bit when the debris falls from the sky! I'll stop now and let you reply!

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Jasmine's Account of the Press Night party

A couple of people have asked for more details of last night. Please scroll over this if you're sick of it - I don't blame you at all, but it seems one or two aren't. The I'll shut up (and do some work!)

The party was on HMS President, on the Embankment. The boat is actually slightly scruffy, but it has fabulous views along the river; we stood on the deck at 2am looking over at Tate Modern, Blackfriars Bridge, Sea Container House, the Oxo tower, the National Theatre, Waterloo Bridge and the Eye, with the bridges free of traffic for once, and a solitary bird (couldn't tell what type, Jackie, but it might have been a rebellious pigeon) swooping low over the water, and I thought to myself: even Vik, even Mickledore, would enjoy this view of the city tonight! The party was packed, so every now and then people escaped on to the deck for a breather and a gaze at the view, including Ralph, who was drinking guinness and wearing brown trousers, red shirt, and (when he went out on deck) a brown leather jacket. There was a disco room - I saw Francesca in there at one point grooving away, but not Ralph, though he might have done. I spent quite a lot of time talking to other cast members, but I noticed that Ralph was talking to the director, Deborah, for a long time. He was very friendly whenever he was approached. I think he and Francesca were there until about 2am - we left at about 2.30am but there were plenty of people left who seemed inclined to stay all night!

By the way, I wanted to add that the Barbican is really very close to St Bartholomew the Great Church in West Smithfield. This is a beautiful old church, parts of it 12th century, and it's where (I'm told) scenes from TEOTA were filmed, as well as (I know this myself) Hugh Grant's non-wedding in Four Weddings and a Funeral. Well worth a visit, whilst you're in the Barbican area.

Gigi C.'s Review of the Play - 04-22-05

It was a superb performance from all the actors. the only one that really nags me is the 'tramp girl'... she is just an awful actress, typical drama school type, with all the hand-waving, head-shaking and that forced 'shakespearean'/luvvie articulation. All other 'younger' actors were superb otherwise.

Anyway, it was interesting to see ralph in a very different role than the last few theatre ones. A much more lively, and less depressing character than the last few. I liked the way Ralph did his speech, it was very convincing, in a Brand way, and you could hear that it was a speech that was planned, but then also gradually built up, reacting to the citizens. What I find really annoying in 'classic' plays is that most actor don't actually try to make you think that the speech comes out of the character, they just say it as if it was written by someone else? I don't know the play at all (all I knew about it was JC was killed by Brutus) And I'm very presently surprised by how interesting it was (the last historical play I saw was 'Edward III' and I almost died of boredom and confusion).

Anton Lesser was the star of the show though, his Brutus is painfully righteous, idealistic and honourable. You really felt sorry for him, such a enormous responsibility on this small, delicate man. SRB is fantastic as usual. He is as thoughtful as ever with his delivery. He sounded exactly the same as well, but one can always look past that and just think of him as a character.

I didn't stay around to wait for ralph.... was buzzing from the play, and was starving as well. most importantly, i'd be quite embarrassed to wait for another hour or so like in stratford, on my own. oh well, i'll try to make it on saturday to see everyone... have fun tonight and tomorrow afternoon..

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