Et tu, Brute?
UCI presents third annual Shakespeare Trial
By Audrey Fong
A favorite among Irvine’s drama and literature enthusiasts, The Shakespeare Trial is returning to UC Irvine - albeit virtually - for its third year on Tuesday, March 9.
Brutus will be put on trial for the murder of Julius Caesar (depicted above in The Death of Julius Caesar by Vincenzo Camuccini, 1806)
Each year, UCI New Swan Shakespeare Center sponsors dozens of academic and public events focused on William Shakespeare. From birthday parties for Shakespeare to reading groups at senior centers and First Folio Fridays (in which guests can view a rare copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio at UCI), the center is bristling with exciting opportunities for the Irvine community to engage with and learn more about the Bard.
Out of all these events, the Shakespeare Trial remains a favorite among scholars and theater lovers alike, with hundreds of guests flocking to the Barclay Theatre each year to watch. This year, the trial will air live through Zoom.
Each year, a Shakespeare character is put on trial for alleged crimes or injustices that took place during the play. For example, in 2018, Hamlet went on trial for the murder of Polonius, while the 2019 trial offered Shylock (from “The Merchant of Venice”) a retrial. In this year’s trial, Brutus (from “Julius Caesar”) will be put on trial for treason and murder.
“Brutus remains one of Shakespeare’s most enigmatic and controversial heroes,” Julia Lupton, professor of English and co-director of the center, explains. “Julius Caesar had been his friend and mentor, a father figure of sorts. When Caesar aims for dictatorial power in Rome, Brutus decides to defend the Roman republic by participating in the assassination. Shakespeare scholars and Roman historians still debate whether Brutus acted honorably or not.”
UCI Professors Julia Lupton and Eli Simon both share their expertise on Shakespeare and his works during the trial. Photo credit Steve Zylius, UCI
During the one and a half hour long event, guests will watch as Stanford’s Carl and Sheila Spaeth Professor of Law Bernadette Meyler and Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of UC Berkeley Law, debate whether Brutus did act honorably. Meyler, who earned her Ph.D. in English from UCI, will mount the defense, while Chemerinsky will prosecute. The Honorable Andrew Guilford will preside over the trial. Ultimately, though, Brutus’ guilt will be determined by the audience, who will vote through Zoom.
This trial, while intended as an entertaining and educational foray into the world of Shakespeare, reveals insights into modern politics and today’s news.
“The issues of the play remain relevant today,” Lupton observes. “When is political violence appropriate or necessary? How far should citizens go to defend the constitutional order? When an elected leader begins to act illegally, how should his transgressions and ambitions be addressed?”
YouTube credit UCI New Swan Shakespeare Center
It is insights and probing questions like these that make the trial so popular among guests year after year. During the trial, Lupton and Eli Simon, Chancellor’s Professor of drama and co-director of the center, share their expertise on Shakespeare and his works, while New Swan Shakespeare Festival actors perform critical scenes from the play to help guests understand the situation. This blend of scholarly insight, legal expertise, and theatrical performances offers a unique new way to look at plays that are centuries old.
“This will prove to be a most exciting evening,” Simon shares. “You will get to see key speeches from the play performed live by two of our finest New Swan actors. And then two brilliant lawyers will argue the case. Finally, members of the audience will vote on whether or not Brutus is guilty of murder and treason. Since it’s a Zoom event, folks from all over the country will be joining us. We’ve found that people revel in the theatrical and intellectual rigor of the event.”
This event is free and open to the public, however registration is required to log in. Learn more and sign up online.
