Petty Men, directed by Júlia Levai and written by John Chisham, Júlia Levai, and Adam Goodbody, tells the story of two understudies for a production of Julius Caesar. It explores their lives spent in the shadows of the theatre, cramped in a dressing room, waiting for the call to perform on stage.
Petty Men begins with a 30-minute call for the 100th production of Julius Caesar, focusing on the understudies—one for Cassius and one for Brutus.
It navigates their time in the dreary dressing room, where they pass the time reciting Shakespeare, a display of companionship and longing for the chance to perform in front of a live audience rather than to each other.
Petty Men makes wonderful use of the beautiful Studio 2 at the Arcola Theatre. The small space makes us feel as if we are part of the dressing room. The naturalistic set design by Tomás Palmer engages the senses of sound, smell, and sight and leaves room for surprises.
The attention to detail on stage is purposeful; everything presented contributes to the story. Each item effectively serves the narrative, transforming the dreary dressing room into the magnificent Rome through creative imagination.
The storytelling in the piece has both strengths and weaknesses, occasionally making it difficult to fully grasp the characters’ thoughts and actions. While it is not a direct adaptation of a Shakespeare play, it does not entirely function on its own either. At various moments, it feels like a love letter to Shakespeare, while at other times it seems to critique theatre as a whole, even drawing parallels to Waiting for Godot. The production explores several intriguing yet complex themes within a limited timeframe, ultimately creating an experience that resonates with and confuses the audience at once.
Several lines were inaudible, despite the use of microphones, making it difficult to follow along. I found myself frequently distracted by the closed captioning displayed above the actors.
There was an interesting attempt to enhance the experience by integrating the caption screen into the concept, which was promising; however, it felt somewhat underdeveloped and was not utilised to its full potential.
The Cassius Understudy, portrayed by Adam Goodbody, could benefit from more depth and development. At times, he primarily serves as a contrast to the Brutus Understudy, played by John Chisham.
However, both actors deliver brilliant performances and hold the audience’s attention effectively. Their dynamic is well-developed, making their relationship intriguing and compelling to watch.
This experience offers a blend of surprising twists and intimate moments, carried by a talented cast. While the pacing dips and feels flat at times, the overall storyline maintains an inviting quality that keeps viewers invested.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
