Jerusalem by jez butterworth - Essay Example

Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth: a review Jerusalem, set in the woods near Pewsey, Wiltshire, tells the story of Rooster Lay, a man who has been livingin a trailer, supplying drugs and alcohol to local youth for many years. A dramatic comedy, Jez Butterworth’s play shows both the humorous aspects of a modern day Falstaff and the tragedy of a man who has led a life of personal ruin. The title is taken from the hymn “Jerusalem” by Sir Hubert Parry plays a role in the production. Originally written for actor Mark Rylance, Jerusalem is a portrait of the man and his demons.

The younger ensemble cast provides connection to current events and social media, in stark contrast to the 71 year old protagonist who is lost in his own world, boasting of drinking 43 pints of Guinness in a single night. Rooster’s scrapes, cuts, bruises and tattoos are symbolic of the depth of his downfall but also serve as a badge of pride in his life. When considering Jerusalem in the context of Goethe’s Rules for Actors, the play demonstrates Goethe’s stress on the importance of the ensemble.

There is an element of Commedia del Arte in the ribald characters, but no real sense of Goethe’s controlled movement of actors within blocked out sections of the stage nor the minimal facial expressions and stunted emotions attributed to the style of the 18th Century German playwright and director. Demonstrating the importance that Goethe placed on the ensemble, Michael Patterson in his book “The first German theatre: Schiller, Goethe, Kleist, and Buchner in performance” states, “…Goethe fostered an ensemble spirit in the company.

Kotzebue, who was otherwise grudging in his respect for Goethe, wrote: ‘Here it is not a matter of everyone for himself, and God for us all; here everyone stands first for the company, and last for himself; here no-one pushes himself forward to shine on his own.’”1 While there is a clear focus on the main character, the rest of the cast is integral to telling the story. They act not only as vehicles for the plot and the narrative of Rooster, but each character compels the audience to explore their unique qualities and relationships.

The action floats between couch-sitting youth and the broad sweeping gestures of a drunken Rooster and the dialogue is at times quickly paced, bringing a sense of urgency. Jerusalem illustrates how we are caught between two worlds. First is the world of the new and immediate; a world of the young, where texting and social media are dominant. The second, older world is one in which rebellion, non-conformity and being apart from convention shaped experience whether for good or not. Jerusalem’s main character, Rooster, is an “Everyman”: we can identify with his struggle, even when his demons have set him on a path of destruction.

Compared with Shakespeare’s Falstaff, Rooster’s boastful life jeopardizes his relationships and yet he maintains his radical lifestyle in spite of it. Through Jerusalem, Butterworth shows us that an aspect of Rooster lies within each of us. In our lives we have the opportunity to rebel against barriers both internal and external, but he also points out that with rebellion is the potential for personal upheaval.