Word: orson
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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...version of Julius Caesar staged during the current season on Broadway under the direction of 22-year-old Orson Welles, is noted for (1 the acting of Walter Hampden, 2 the faithful reproduction of Shakespearian costumes, 3 the fact that Julius Caesar is presented to New York audiences for the first time in ten years, 4 modern, up-to-date dress and interpretation, 5 its accurate use of Shakespearian English...
Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" in the hands of Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre, has been stripped of its superstitious characters and less significant scenes, act on a huge bare stage with several platforms and an immense vertical rectangle, and had its antique continues changed for grim modern civilian suits and Fascist uniforms. Thereby after the first few moments of apparent incongruity have passed, it is a stark, harrowing picture of mob passion and dictatorship...
...Shoemakers' Holiday (by Thomas Dekker; produced by the Mercury Theatre). With his modern-dress Julius Caesar still playing to capacity audiences in its eighth week, last week Actor-Producer Orson Welles turned again to the gusty Elizabethans. Bawdier than three burlesque shows, but too disarmingly frank and deftly acted to be offensive, The Shoemakers' Holiday struck Broadway like a brisk wind. Good Queen Bess, never a prude, must have liked it too, and roared like a sailor...
...Cradle Will Rock (music and words by Marc Blitzstein; presented by the Mercury Theatre). To John Houseman and Orson Welles, the producers of Julius Caesar (TIME, Nov. 22), Marc Blitzstein's The Cradle Will Rock is an old problem. They tried to produce it in Manhattan last June for the WPA theatre, were stopped on dress rehearsal night by a mysterious order from above. Now, without benefit of Government, they present it on their own bare stage for special performances. Author Blitzstein sits on the stage, plays his music, occasionally joins the actors as they step forward to sing...
...angled shafts of light marked this Caesar (Joseph Holland) well-his striding height, jutting chin, cross-belted military tunic, sleek modern breeches. Dark-shirted followers saluted him with uplifted right arms, sharp hails. Lights more benign singled out contemplative, poet-haired Brutus (Orson Welles), a reluctant, calmly-reasoning conspirator-an introspective idealist in a blue serge suit. No lean and hungry Cassius was Actor Martin Gabel, but a hunched, spleeny agitator, surrounded by grim adherents in modern mufti, slouch hats pluck'd about their ears...