Julius Caesar: A Great Political Thriller With An All-Female Cast – Adelaide Fringe Review

Holden Street Theatre, The Arch, Thu 2 Mar. Essential Theatre are best known for their vibrant, accessible outdoor productions of Shakespeare in some of the country’s great vineyards. Now in their 15th year, the talented team have decided to bring the bard indoors; in this case, Julius Caesar. Moving this great political thriller indoors along with its all-female cast loses nothing in the shift, both physical and mental. If anything, it highlights this wonderful script and shines an even brighter light on these flawed characters. At just under 90 minutes these ladies, directed by Fleur Kilpatrick, should be applauded for creating a tight, vibrant, accessible and politically up-to-the-minute play. The individual cast members, each adding their own talent and understanding to the text, allowed us to go on the emotional journey with them, for as they understood what they were saying, I was able to understand also. To finally hear the ‘Friends, Romans, Countrymen’ speech in context and to watch the struggle that each character (some struggles easier than others) went through on their journey to and after the Ides Of March was a joy to watch. Another great thing about Essential Theatre is their wonderful use of costumes and the simple and clever way an actor can shape-shift into another character in seconds with just the reverse of a coat or the addition of a skirt, sometimes before our very eyes. The use of flour for blood during Et tu brute? was inspired and the simplicity of set highlighted to me yet again that if you have a great script and great actors who understand the text then you need nothing more. The story is all. 4.5 stars Charissa McCluskey-Garcia Julius Caesar continues at Holden Street Theatre – The Arch from 6pm until Sat 4 Mar. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. #ADLfringe