The Shakspere Club's Performance of Julius Caesar.

It has already been made known to the college that the Shakspere Club is planning to give a public representation of Julius Caesar this spring. During the past week the president of the club, Mr. Jones, has been busy reducing the various suggestions for the project into definite shape. The assignment of characters was finally determined last Saturday, and in other details the plan is now practically complete. The date of the presentation of the play is set for the third week in May.

The great difficulty which perplexed the club when the project bringing out a play was first considered, lay in the mounting of the play. Sanders' theatre is not well adapted to presenting a play in modern style. It is doubtful whether the proper scenery could be set up on the stage; if it could be placed, it could not be easily handled. The club, however, was naturally reluctant to mount the play in a shabby or insufficient manner. It was felt that no scenery at all might be better than an amount inadequate to the frequent changes of the play. Another consideration finally decided the question of scenery. It was suggested that a presentation of the play as it was originally acted in Shakspere's time would be appropriate for an organization of college students like the Shakspere club. Such a presentation would involve a return to the original text of the play and to the traditional methods of acting of Shak-spere's time. All scenery, moreover, would be done away with, except the simple devices which, in the olden time, formed the stock in trade of the strolling companies of actors, who then maintained the drama.

It was decided not to follow Shak-sperian tradition as regards the actor's dress. Whatever would be gained in historical interest would be counterbalanced by the loss of all that was Roman in the play. Thus it is related of Garrick in Macbeth, that he played the part of the Moor in a powdered gray wig; and it is probable that in Shakspere's time there was an equal conformity with the prevailing English fashions. This feature of the play the Shakspere club does not care to reproduce. The attempt will be made, instead, to imitate with historical fidelity the costume of the Romans of the time of Cxsar. This will be made an important feature of the play.

It will be noticed in the cast of characters that nearly every one of the important parts is broken up and assigned to several actors. The reason for this arrangement can easily be seen.

It is the object of the Shakspere club to teach the dramatic art to its members, and it was with this object in view that the performance of the play was decided on. An assignment of the parts in the customary manner, however, would defeat this aim. A few men would monopolize the important roles, and the rest would have so little to do that their parts would be of but little profit to them. By the plan of distribution that is adopted, this objection is as far as possible done away with. The strongest cast is not brought out in this way, but the whole club shares the benefit of acting. This arrangement, by the way, shows the absurdity of some of the stories that have been published in the Boston papers. The club does not intend to rival the Greek play in its performance, but simply to encourage the study of dramatic arts at Harvard. Only the first 3 acts of the play will be given. The shortness of the time for preparation will prevent the rendering of the whole play.

The following is the cast of characters, First act: Cxsar, Cummings, D. S.; Antony, Litchfield, '85; Brutus. Baldwin, '85; Cassius, Winter, '85; Casca, Richardson, '86; Calpurina, Sanford, '85; Soothsayer, Kelleher, '85; 1st Citizen, Strauss, '86; 2nd Citizen, Bowen, '85; Flavius, Boyden, '86; Marullus, Roundy, '85.

The second act: Brutus, H. D. Jones; Cassius, Winter, '85; Casca, Greenman, '85; D. Brutus, Rogers, '86; Cimber, Foss, '85; Trebonius, Hamlin, '86; Portia, Stevens, '86; Lucius, Bailey, '85; Ligarius, Roundy, '85; Cinna, Dickerman, '86.

The third act: Cxsar, Cummings, D. S.; Brutus, Hansen. '85; Casca, Bowen, '85; Cassius, Goodale, '84; D. Brutus, Rogers, '86; Cimber, Foss, '85; Trebonius, Hamlin, '86; Popilius, Kelleher, '85; Servant, Greenman, '85; Chief Citizens, Boyden, Strauss, Bailey, and Dickerman.