Bell Shakespeare's Julius Caesar: A muddled modern take

Bell Shakespeare's production of Julius Caesar, directed by Peter Evans, sets the play in a suburban outdoor area in Melbourne's outer north, using a set of grey paving slabs, a battered leather sofa, and a faded Cinzano parasol. The design is criticized as a generic 'now-ish' that neither embraces the text's classical import nor convincingly reflects contemporary times. Septimus Caton plays Caesar with an overbearingly jolly, bellicose demeanor, while Brigid Zengeni's Brutus is the strongest performer, convincing in her belief that Caesar had to go for Rome's freedom. The gender-flipped role of Brutus, paired with non-binary actor Jules Billington as Portia, adds an intriguing frisson. Leon Ford plays Cassius, Ruby Maishman is Cinna, Gareth Reeves is Casca, and Mark Leonard Winter is Mark Anthony. Costume designer Simone Romaniuk dresses Caesar in a white three-piece suit with purple trim, but the army fatigues for the ensemble are less successful. Lighting designer Amelia Lever-Davidson supports the stripped-back stagecraft. The production runs at Arts Centre Melbourne until 10 May.