Julius X: A Reenvisioning of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare Reviews

Washington Post- Not Recommended

"...But Letson's play can't reconcile glaring incongruences: Ancient Rome and 1960s Harlem are diametrically opposed contexts. (The staging from director Nicole Brewer leans toward the latter.) The ambitious head of a colonial empire is a fundamentally different power position than a racial-justice warrior rallying grassroots support. The script's faithfulness to "Julius Caesar" muddles its treatment of civil-rights-era tensions and discourse; by the time Julius X's assailants are wrestling for dominance - with Brutus exclaiming "Oh Harlem" and "Harlem must be whole" - the historical plot has officially been lost."

MetroWeekly- Recommended

"...Where the performances are concerned, the battle is well-met on both sides. Brandon Carter, comporting his Julius with authority and confidence, and a stirring orator, yet shows the man's humility in seeking, if not necessarily following, counsel from his dear wife Calpurnia (Nikkole Salter), and placing his trust in dear friend Brutus."

Washington City Paper- Somewhat Recommended

"...Still, the idea is a timely one, given the uptick in political violence in the U.S. in recent years, and the growing segment of the populace who tell pollsters it's sometimes necessary. So it's somewhat surprising that Letson revealed on an episode of Shakespeare Unlimited-the official podcast of the Folger Shakespeare Library, where Letson's play is getting its first full staging-that he wrote Julius X more than a decade ago. By relocating the action from ancient Rome to 1960s Harlem, Letson and director Nicole Brewer attempt to contemporize the tragedy, but trading one historical epoch for another just makes the enterprise feel like a period piece twice removed."

MD Theatre Guide- Highly Recommended

"...Theatrically chronicling the rise and fall of Malcolm X demands a contextual framework equal to the larger-than-life mythicism of the story. Al Letson, using Shakespeare as his canvas, casts Malcom X as the tirelessly crusading, historically hapless Caesar. This Caesar-Malcom X mashup, conceived as "Julius X," portrays what happens when cause meets ambition in a most dangerous way."

BroadwayWorld- Highly Recommended

"...Any time you set out to write a play, there is the foundational concept of the Point of Attack; the precise moment at which you begin to tell your story. The choice is crucial enough as it is, but when you take on a subject as fraught and as controversial as the assassination of Malcolm X, you must begin very carefully indeed."

DC Theater Arts- Highly Recommended

"...What is the cost of honor? The price of freedom? The responsibility of ambition? From a fictionalized 1960s Harlem, Julius X: A Re-envisioning of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare combines the story arc of Julius Caesar with the assassination of Malcolm X and the poetry of today to evocatively plumb the uncertain depths of honor, loyalty, and brotherhood."