Breakneck Julius Caesar on stage at Northwestern

Guest artist Tim Mooney will present his one-man show, “Breakneck Julius Caesar,” Thursday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m. in the Allen Black Box Theatre of the DeWitt Theatre Arts Center. The show is free and open to the public.

Mooney has “recklessly sliced” Shakespeare’s original down to a fast-paced, one-hour event, racing through the history of the Roman Republic and barreling on through the great conspiracy, the Ides of March, Mark Antony’s eulogy, the public mutiny and the ultimate face-off against the conspirators, Brutus and Cassius.

Mooney says, “The intent is to add by subtraction. By clearing the story of a dozen actors and hours of dialogue, we surface the power that the original Elizabethan audience must have felt. We see the forest in spite of all the trees, and what is revealed is a pretty spectacular, sensational and often hilarious romp.”

Mooney’s adaptation quickly brings the audience up to speed for Shakespeare’s profound study in the ascent to ultimate power, and the fear and loathing stirred in those left in his wake. Mooney says, “I never really understood ‘Julius Caesar’ before, and I never knew why until I took this deep dive into the play. Every time I’ve ever seen this, the performers have taken Mark Antony’s final tribute to Brutus as if it were 100 percent sincere. I think it’s actually a really subversive joke—which changes everything!”

“Breakneck Julius Caesar” is Mooney’s ninth one-man play, his fourth Shakespeare one-man show. Mooney has also adapted 17 Molière plays and performed his adaptations and original shows at more than 60 Fringe Festival theatre showcases around the country.