Title: Dead Caesar
Date: 3 February 2007
Writer: Chris Taylor
Composer: Andrew Hansen
Director: Tamara Cook
Actors: Andrew Hansen, Ben Borgia, Leon Ford, John Leary, Ewen Leslie, Rebecca Massey and Toby Moore.
Venue: Wharf 2 Sydney Theatre Company
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It appears that today, more than ever, there are people (read “celebrities”) who are crossing the genre divide, defying categorisation and some merely as a cash grabbing exercise (and if you don’t agree with me, look at all of the Hollywood starlets and pop tarts releasing underwear and perfume ranges.) So it was with a hint of cynicism that I originally saw the advertisements for Dead Caesar, a Wharf 2 Loud rehearsal-style play written by The Chaser’s Chris Taylor. Messer Taylor was accompanied by his friend, Andrew Hansen who fulfilled roles as composer and actor in this satirical rewrite of history.
And boy was I mistaken, as this event proved that Taylor and Hansen are talented enough to cross the television divide for a foray into theatre. The show boasted few props, no set per se and clocked in at approximately one hour, leaving absolutely no room for filler or excess fat. Rather, it proved to be entertaining and funny for all, as it had enough highbrow humour for the theatre aficionados and adequate puerile, juvenile jibes for those with penchants for pop culture.
Thus, it was a show of contrasts with the performers emerging as dark, shadowy characters in brown robes, which they soon removed in place of more traditional costumes, albeit with some colourful boxer shorts. This occurred in an all singing, all dancing spectacle and introduction to set the scene for the well-scripted and hilarious dialogue courtesy of Taylor and the expertly crafted songs from Hansen.
Hansen was also very convincing in his Sydney Theatre Company debut, as both Mark Anthony and the bumbling assistant for Brutus. He creatively used a modern guitar in place of a lute, improvised television show Thank God You’re Here and sang the best song of the entire show “Even idiots/pricks/tossers/fucking wanker deadbeats look like heroes after death.” And I will leave you to fill in the gaps of the famous dead persons and notorious living characters that were used.
In addition, the highest kudos of the evening should certainly be given to John Leary for his excellent performance of the lonely and embittered Messenger who spent a considerable portion of his time on stage ruminating about his NIDA training and the fact that he was confined to yet another role of delivering short messages to actors onstage. Later in the show he attempted to communicate a message to Barry Otto, who at the time was performing in one of the other studios. That said, the two aforementioned, standout actors did not detract from the other talented people, Toby Moore, Ben Borgia, Ewen Leslie, Leon Ford and Rebecca Massey.
In sum, Chris Taylor has written an absolute winner with Dead Caesar, whilst also cleverly depicting the works of other directors and their interpretations of the life of the famous dictator that preceded the current portrayal. If only every performer’s debut into another medium was as fun or enjoyable, but sadly this instance is an exception rather than the rule. Well done Chris and Andrew, it’s good to see that your break from The War On Everything over summer was so fruitful.
