Tina Benko as Melania Trump in the role of Caesar's wife, Calpurnia, and Gregg Henry as President Donald Trump in the role of Julius Caesar in The Public Theater's 2017 production of Julius Caesar.

Don't Blame Shakespeare

On the Media | Jun 16, 2017

Before the shooting at a congressional softball practice this week, right-wing critics were already accusing liberals of advocating political violence, due to a New York City production of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar", in which the assassinated Caesar is portrayed as Donald Trump. Criticism of the play ultimately led several major backers to withdraw support. But The Guardian's Lois Becket t says that this outrage completely misunderstands the play and the production. Brooke speaks with Beckett about what the critics got wrong, theater in the era of Trump, and why we need art to inform our political discourse now more than ever.

Song:

Whiskey For Breakfast by Stephen Seifert
Psalom by Kronos Quartet

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