Review Fix Exclusive: Ross Williams Talks ‘Titus Andronicus’

Review Fix chats with New York Shakespeare Exchange Artistic Director Ross Williams who discusses the theatre company’s run of “Titus Andronicus” at the Main Stage Theater at HERE (145 6th Avenue; enter on Dominick, 1 Block South of Spring) from Jan. 22 through Feb. 8.

Although one of Shakespeare’s lesser known works, it’s easily one of his most intense and brutal.

Synopsis:

After ten years of savage war, Rome stands ready for a period of peace. Instead, the combat-ravaged heroes return to find their Emperor dead and the citizens demanding an end to the oppression of Imperial rule. Only the free election of the noble Titus Andronicus will satisfy their demands. But change does not come easily in a world where brutality is always the first response. Who can survive the carnival of madness when Titus defies the people’s choice and declines the crown?

For More Information on the Production, Click Here.

Review Fix: What was the company’s reasoning to pick this Shakespearean production?

Ross Williams: I started looking at Titus Andronicus a few years back during a simple living room reading of the play. We gathered some actors to get in a room and just muck around with a play that had always felt problematic, especially because of its reputation as simply being Shakespeare’s goriest play. I was really surprised that in a setting where the primary focus was the actual text, rather than the blood effects, that the play was incredibly emotional and asked some important questions. To me, it rang true as a cautionary tale about what can go wrong in a world that uses violence as a standard resolution for any conflict. The play exists in a “violence begets violence begets violence…” sort of reality. And certainly, we can see this kind of experience in today’s America, and across the globe. This play, like so many of Shakespeare’s great works, speaks to me about my place in today’s world, and it challenges me to really examine the cause and effect of how we live our lives.

Review Fix: For those not familiar with it, can you give us a basic synopsis?

Williams: The play tells the story of celebrated general, Titus Andronicus, returning home after 10 years of brutal war. He brings, as his hostage, Tamora, Queen of the Goths. Titus hopes to live out the remainder of his days in peace. But when the newly placed Emperor Saturninus takes Tamora as his Empress, Titus falls from grace and becomes the focus of a vengeful and bloody onslaught. As his family is picked off, one by one, Titus struggles to find some peaceful resolution in a world that values, above all else, the power of revenge.

Review Fix: How is your version different?

Williams: I approach every one of Shakespeare’s plays with the question, “how is this play about today.” We are creating this production in a world that feels uniquely American and can explore our current reality of violence. And, we are starting with the characters and the language, not with the sensational slasher gore that so many productions focus on. To my mind, it is a profoundly beautiful piece of literature that can get easily lost in a sea of blood. It would be disingenuous to produce Titus without violence, but it does not have to be the beginning and end of the storytelling.

Review Fix: You need a special cast to pull this off. What makes your cast special?

Williams: First and foremost, they are all highly skilled with Shakespearean language. The power with which they breathe life to these beautiful words is astonishing. But, they are also incredibly brave. This play requires actors to visit some very, very dark places. I am consistently amazed by the sense of exploration and courage in our rehearsals.

Review Fix: Who do you think will enjoy this production the most?

Williams: Well, of course, any lover of Shakespeare. But, people who think that Shakespeare is over their heads or out of reach will definitely find a place of connection to this show, too. They will see themselves in the characters and the situations. They will hear the language as it relates to their experiences. Additionally, I think anyone who has ever thought that the play is only sensationalizing violence will find a new appreciation for the play’s power.

Review Fix: What have you learned about yourself as a director during your time with this cast and production?

Williams: I suppose I’ve learned that it takes a unique approach to dig into the cruelty that drives these characters. There must be, even in the darkest moments, a sense of theatrical wonder and whimsy. Theater is about joy. Finding joy in the pain is tricky, but also exciting and ultimately incredibly rewarding.

Review Fix: How do you want your version to be remembered?

Williams: I’d like audiences to really know what this play is about — to remember this production as the story that Shakespeare wrote, not just a blood-fest that made them squirm.