CHICAGO (WLS) — The Bard has never been so hip-hop, and the Q Brothers Collective is getting rave reviews for “Rome Sweet Rome.”
It’s the company’s latest “Add-RAP-Tation,” a stage innovation the group made famous.
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The performers said the show at Chicago Shakespeare Theater is a rousing take on “Julius Caesar.”
The Q Brothers Collective seeks to bond in a brotherhood of dynamic music with a message, and plenty of humor.
JQ is a founding member, with sibling GQ.
“So we started grabbing toys and had a small Fisher-Price recorder. We would dress up in their clothes and start creating silly game shows, along with little plays and short sketches. Around the same time, in 1985 and 1986, hip-hop began to emerge. This all happened on the Northwest Side of Chicago,” shared Jeffery Ameen Qaiyum.
JQ shared why they tackled William Shakespeare.
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“Crafting an entire 90-minute narrative from scratch, complete with a plot, is quite a complex task. So, being able to rely on these stories and their structure was fantastic because it let us concentrate on what we were good at, like making jokes and writing rhymes,” he added.
Postell Pringle, “Pos,” plays Caesar, and co-created the show.
“Shakespeare resembled the first rapper. He observed the world and essentially reported on it, but did so through captivating lyrical storytelling. His plays were written in verse,” Pringle noted. “Attending one was akin to going to a rap concert. We aim for the era to resonate with everyone in the family, from kids enjoying the dance, color, and rapid movement, to adults appreciating the wit and insight.”
Jackson Doran, “Jax,” is a writer, director and part of the ensemble.
“You take the core of these old stories and blend them with modern music and rhymes. They naturally merge together,” Doran explained. “I adore celebrating the culture and hold it in high regard. I deeply respect it and see it as a significant part of American history.”
“It is like nonstop; it is an assault of humor, and and dance, and beats and music. I mean, it is the funnest show we’ve ever created,” Pringle said.
“Rome Sweet Rome” is at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier through Oct. 19.
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