Petty Men review – understudies plot their own version of Julius Caesar
Arcola theatre, London Hanging around backstage while their chances to play Brutus and Cassius fade, two unnamed actors start to act out their own dramaThis is no glamorous dressing room:...
By David Jays · The Guardian Culture
Arcola theatre, London Hanging around backstage while their chances to play Brutus and Cassius fade, two unnamed actors start to act out their own drama This is no glamorous dressing room: no telegrams, fizz or floral tributes. Instead, there’s an ailing pot plant and a bucket to catch the drips. It’s the understudies’ lair in a West End production of Julius Caesar. Some big name plays Caesar (consensus is he’s a bit of a dick), while our guys cover the chief assassins. They don’t even get their own names here – just Understudy Brutus and Understudy Cassius. Night after night they skulk, waiting for the call that never comes, the show Tannoy an implacable reminder of the parade passing them by. For the show’s 100th performance, they celebrate with party hats, microwave popcorn and a run-through of the play they may never deliver for real. At Arcola theatre, London , until 20 December Continue reading...