Shakespeare by the Sea: Julius Caesar

Reviewing from a preview can be tricky. There is no doubt that rough edges get smoothed over time, so I’m willing to say that some of the problems with SBTS’s production of Julius Caesar (things like actors stumbling over the dense text) will certainly disappear by opening night. However, I’m not sure that time will fix the feeling that there is very little that stands out in this production. While the costumes are well rendered, they are the expected togas and cloaks rather than something more original. The outdoor venue is ineffective in that it in no way suggests the city of Rome or the hilly landscape around the battlefield at Phillipi. The acting is workmanlike, but less inspired than I have come to expect from these well-seasoned professionals. –Kate Watson