Beware the Ides of March

 In our family we are not so good at gift giving.  My sincerest apologies to those who have or who will marry my children.  I have not taught them well concerning giving thoughtful gifts-- please be merciful with them.  But you know what we are good at?  Throwing really fun, really memorable birthday parties!

Bethany's birthday is on March 15th, which is The Ides of March.  

As in, "Beware the Ides of March"-- spoken by the Soothsayer in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.  Over the years we've joked about having a toga party on her birthday.  One day over lunch, we had the brilliant idea to put on our own Julius Caesar play.  

Side note:  If you haven't heard of a beyond delightful book series entitled, The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, I encourage you to read them ASAP-- the audio books are especially good.  The fictional city she lives in has a marvelous tradition surrounding an annual production of Julius Caesar.  I suppose that planted the seed of  putting on the play?  But I digress.

Anyway, we did it and it was beyond great fun and now I will share a bunch of pictures because they make me very happy

Andrea was so good as to host us at her Plumfield house downtown.  The wedding backdrop served very well as a play backdrop.  We rehearsed for a couple of hours and then it was SHOWTIME!

The birthday girl!  I found a one hour script online and I printed them and spiral bound them.  

Years ago we were Greek Gods for Halloween.  The costumes have come in handy a few times over the years-- namely for a choir of angels at Christmas-- but now this!

This is Brutus (Cannon) falling on his sword held by his servant Lucius (Landen).  So much death.

These two truly understood the assignment.  Bethany was Cassius and she and Brutus were hilarious together.

Click here to see the bloody battle scene

Ben was such a noble Marc Antony-- Click here to see him in action

Addressing the citizens of Rome...

Portia (Faith) trying to reasoning with her husband 

The conspirators-- Nathan, London, Marsden, Abby, and Peter

It's not a great picture, but Greta was simply marvelous as the Soothsayer

Et Tu, Brute?  See the action here

Click here for words between generals

Are you kidding me?

Ben's family-- the Matz clan

My dad and my sister's family

The whole thing was just so much fun!  I think this will not be the last Spontaneous Shakespeare Production.