The Public Theater on Monday said it “stands completely behind” its production of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” amid backlash over the rendition’s portrayal of a dictator with similarities to President Donald Trump.
“The Public Theater stands completely behind our production of Julius Caesar,” the Public Theater said in a statement released Monday. “We understand and respect the right of our sponsors and supporters to allocate their funding in line with their own values.”
Delta Air Lines and Bank of America, both sponsors of the play, pulled out over similarities between Shakespeare’s Caesar — who is stabbed to death in the third act of the play — and Trump. The National Endowment for the Arts on Sunday also distanced itself from the production.
“We recognize that our interpretation of the play has provoked heated discussion; audiences, sponsors and supporters have expressed varying viewpoints and opinions,” the Public Theater said. “Such discussion is exactly the goal of our civically-engaged theater; this discourse is the basis of a healthy democracy.”
The theater said its rendition of the play “in no way advocates violence towards anyone.”
“Shakespeare’s play, and our production, make the opposite point,” the Public Theater noted. “Those who attempt to defend democracy by undemocratic means pay a terrible price and destroy the very thing they are fighting to save.”
Washington Post reporter David Fahrenthold on Monday noted that, in a stroke of apparent irony, Trump made his first contribution via his charitable foundation to the Public Theater’s Shakespeare festival.
The very first donation @realDonaldTrump made from his Trump Fdn, in 1987, was to @PublicTheaterNY Shakespeare fest. pic.twitter.com/RGnhWJijVn
— David Fahrenthold (@Fahrenthold) June 12, 2017
I remember ~10 years ago there was a version of Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi with many of the characters replaced with members of the Bush admin. These days, I can hardly think of a better representation of the belligerent asshole Ubu than the current occupant of the WH.
Per NPR there was at least one production of Julius Caesar during the Obama administration that made allusions to Obama as Caesar. If I hear word one from a conservative about this production, I’m going to ask where the complaints were when the same thing was done to President Obama.
==ETA
Broadway World says the Guthrie Theater of Minneapolis was one company with such a portrayal (in their 2012 season). Just to make things more delicious, Delta was a sponsor of the Guthrie’s 2012 season. Needless to say, Delta did not withdraw its funding of the Guthrie’s season, and Delta continues to sponsor the Guthrie.
And in New York (also in 2012) The Acting Company staged a similar production of Julius Caesar.
Uh oh, it sounds like conservatives have changed their attitude toward political correctness. Perhaps a few Party Censors can review/approve scripts before they go to production?
Good for them. That is what theater is for (said me with the undergrad degree in Theater Arts).
And if you saw the Tonys last night, you know the Broadway community isn’t exactly full of Trump supporters. Which is as it should be.
Art imitates life, life imitates art, yada yada yada…