Production of Julius Caesar helps veterans talk
about their own concerns.
And Crispian shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers…
— Henry V, Act 4, Scene 3
Newswise, November 2, 2015 — Carissa DiPietro puts
Shakespeare’s thoughts into her own words, but the meaning is similar: “I felt
like I was surrounded by people who understood me and some of the things I’ve
been through.”
DiPietro is one of a group of military veterans who are using
Shakespeare to work through their own challenges, under the guidance of two
University of Wisconsin (UWM) theater professors. Their troupe, Feast of
Crispian will be performing “Julius Caesar,” the weekend of Oct. 30-Nov. 1 in
Milwaukee.
Bill Watson, associate professor of theater, Nancy
Smith-Watson, an actor and somatic body therapist, and Jim Tasse, senior
lecturer in theater, founded the group as a way of helping veterans deal with
depression, post-traumatic stress, addiction and reintegration into society.
The name comes from the speech in Shakespeare’s “Henry V,” in which the king
reminds his soldiers of their lasting bonds.
Watson and Tasse, a veteran himself, volunteered their
services to the Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VA), using
rehearsal techniques developed and tested three decades ago by Shakespeare and
Company in Massachusetts. The Watsons and Tasse, though, added their own unique
approach to the use of Shakespeare’s texts -- a therapeutic intervention.
They held their first workshop nearly three years ago, and
have worked with more than 250 veterans since then, doing weekend theater boot
camps and small presentations for family and friends. The current production of
“Julius Ceasar” is the group’s first performance for the general public.
“We wanted to try out the idea…to see if performing
Shakespeare had any benefits, and we found that indeed it was having great
benefit,” Tasse said.
The statistics on challenges veterans face are eye opening:
Each day, 22 veterans commit suicide and one-quarter of veterans end up
homeless, said Watson.
The Shakespeare approach works on a number of different
levels. The veterans, who come from all branches of the service and range in
age from early 20s to seniors, build a community of trust.
“In acting, as in the military, everybody is important to the
production,” Tasse said. “Everybody has to do their job. They are a brotherhood
and sisterhood.”
On another level, acting gives the veterans a chance to
explore their own feelings through another character.
“It’s an opportunity to tell our stories, safeguarded by the
script,” said Johny Sherwood, a senior UWM theater major and veteran of
Afghanistan.
He volunteered to take part in the program after hearing about
it while he was at the VA for non-combat related surgery. “You can go to the
dark places within, but your own secrets are secure.”
The very words of Shakespeare give the veterans a chance to
contemplate their own issues. Many of the plays and scenes used in workshops
look at conflict and violence.
Jan Masalewicz, a Vietnam veteran who found Shakespeare boring
in high school, has developed a new appreciation of the plays. “Things he wrote
about in his plays are still true today… war and betrayal and love … all that
stuff.”
The veterans and the professionals who work with them spend time exploring the themes of the plays, talking about how they relate to their lives, sharing their own emotions when they feel comfortable doing that, and learning to express some of their feelings through acting.
The professionals work with the veterans, explaining the Shakespearean
language and going on stage with them to give them the lines so they can focus
on conveying the characters’ emotions.
While not everyone in the group suffers from trauma and
stress, all find a level of comfort in working together with a group of fellow
veterans on a challenging project.
Chris Nickrant, who served in the Air Force from 1970-74, has
been with the group through almost every workshop. “It’s definitely expanding
my horizons. I’m learning to reach out to other people.” The current play has
also inspired him to read more about Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Brutus and the
assassination, he added.
“You can go through counseling for years and years and not
really reach into the emotional aspect until you do something like this,” said
DiPietro. “I’m not really a crier, but I’ve cried in this group. That’s how
safe I feel. It’s absolutely incredible.”
“With this play, I have a purpose. Something I look forward
to. Something to be excited about… I haven’t felt that way in a long time.”
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