Radio Review : A Distinctly American ‘Caesar’ on Radio

Those who were bludgeoned to death by the force-feeding of “Julius Caesar” in a dreary high school English class--that is, the majority of us who have ever read the play at all--can take heart in a highly accessible radio version of “Julius Caesar.”

Airing tonight and recorded in the studios of KCRW at Santa Monica College and co-produced by the BBC, L.A. Theatre Works and KCRW, the production doesn’t feature a single British accent.

Instead, the BBC wanted a Yankee energy, an American style and speech, and that’s certainly what listeners get--a star-laden, all-American cast featuring, among others, Richard Dreyfuss as Marc Antony, Stacy Keach as Brutus, Harold Gould as Caesar, JoBeth Williams as Brutus’ wife Portia and Bonnie Bedelia as Caesar’s wife Calpurnia. Other performers include John de Lancie in the crucial role of the “lean and hungry” chief conspirator Cassius and Kelsey Grammer and John Randolph in smaller, multiple roles.

Unfortunately, the narrator/host fails to identify the actors by the characters they are playing until after the play has ended. So listeners have no clear idea who’s performing which role. Listeners are robbed of the pleasure of matching voices to familiar faces.

On the other hand, this is pure and compelling radio drama, where listeners must use their visual imaginations. There’s a vast reward in that, given Martin Jenkins’ assured direction and the actors’ flavorful vocal dynamics.

The first hour is more riveting, focused as it is on the senators’ murder conspiracy and culminating with the bloody assassination of Caesar, complete with howls and wails. Dreyfuss’ Marc Antony eulogy over Caesar’s butchered body is a gem of political persuasion.

* “Julius Caesar” airs tonight, 6:30-9 p.m., on KCRW-FM (89.9).