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When a production of Julius Caesar cast 'Trump' as Caesar, Trump supporters were triggered

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Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP

A group of ardent Donald Trump supporters attempted to shut down a production of Julius Caesar in Central Park on Saturday.

The production of Shakespeare's play, first performed in 1599, was an adaptation featuring a figure similar to the US President as Julius Caesar.

As the play prescribes, Caesar is assassinated by his rivals.

However, before the scene could play out on Saturday's night version of the play the stage was stormed by a woman, later identified as Laura Loomer, who shouted:

This is violence against Donald Trump...this is political violence against the right

Loomer appears to have been in cahoots with right wing commentator Jack Posobiec, who filmed the incident and then uploaded it to Twitter. 

 

Posobiec also condemned the audience comparing them to former Nazi propaganda minister Josef Goebbels.

You are all Goebbels.

You are all Nazis like Joseph Goebbels … You are inciting terrorists.

The blood of Steve Scalise is on your hands.

Scalise is a top-ranking Republican whip who was shot earlier this week in Alexandria, Virginia whilst at a congressional baseball practice.

Reports say that the pair who interrupted the show were quickly removed from the theatre by security and the play resumed with a minute.

Loomer was then arrested after she refused to stop shouting and move along. She was charged with criminal trespass and disorderly conduct but soon released on bail.

Donald Trump Jr. also drew comparisons to the Scalise shooting and the New York play in a tweet, which was posted on Wednesday.

 

The production, which has been put on by New York's Public Theatre and Free Shakespeare in the Park, had already drawn controversy even before Saturday's incident. 

Two of the theatre's major corporate sponsors, Bank of America and Delta Airlines withdrew their financial support due to the depiction of a figure similar to Trump in the play.

Their stance won support from Eric Trump who tweeted his approval.

 

Fox News also ran a piece condemning the play.

A statement from the theatre's spokeswoman on Monday, as quoted by the Guardian, attempted to defends the plays decision and convey the message it was trying to send.

Our production of Julius Caesar in no way advocates violence towards anyone.

Shakespeare’s play, and our production, make the opposite point: those who attempt to defend democracy by undemocratic means pay a terrible price and destroy the very thing they are fighting to save.

Before a rendition of the play on Monday evening director Oskar Eustis also echoed those thoughts when he addressed the audience in attendance.

 

In the interest of fairness it should be pointed out that Trump wouldn't be the first President to be portrayed as Caesar.

An article from Time indicates that Barack Obama was envisioned as Caesar during a 2012 production, whilst George W. Bush and Richard Nixon have also compared to other Shakespearean characters.

The play in question, which is free, has been running in Central Park Delacorte Theatre since 23 May is due to close today, 18 June.

More: This LGBT teacher's amazing photo with Donald Trump is going viral

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