Master Class with Julian Glover

This past Friday we had a master class with Julian Glover who you may know from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Star Wars.  He has tons credits from the RSC, Globe, and National Theatre.  He most recently played Lear in the Globe's production of King Lear.  Glover has been involved with anything of interest for him, appearing most in British Television and doing a lot play readings on radio as well as on tape.  For his master class we rehearsed one of the final scenes in Julius Caesar where Brutus and Antony make their final speeches to the crowd to rally them against the conspirators.  With a group of about 43 who go in seconds from loving Caesar to hating him, to loving him, to hating Cassius, to loving Brutus, to loving Antony, to hating Brutus, to killing an innocent citizen on the street.  This all happens within about 10 minutes.  This part of the play says a lot for how motivational speaking can instantly change people's minds about their control over the world around them, (as they are played upon by one individual).  What we got was a unique experience of being in a believably sized group of citizens set on fire by the powers that be.  In theatre there is never the budget for such a large group, so usually a "crowd" consists of anywhere from 5-10 people.  I played Brutus and had to convince the citizens of Rome that I killed Caesar for the betterment of the people.  What a trip.  It was great.  Glover had a lot of insight to give us as young artists and was very supportive of the life I gave to Brutus.