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The Dartmouth
July 14, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

'Julius Caesar' showcases strong student performances

Matt Cohn '08, as Julius Caesar, utters the infamous line
Matt Cohn '08, as Julius Caesar, utters the infamous line

When Julius Caesar, played by Matthew Cohn '08, uttered this famous line at the Friday, Feb. 22 performance of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," I idiotically thought to myself, "Oh, this seems familiar." As well it should.

Everyone knows the story -- historically accurate or not -- of Julius Caesar, the Roman general who was assasinated by senators on the Ides of March.

Director Jamie Horton adds contemporary flavors to this classic tale. The result is a play that seems modern despite using words such as "hath" and "thou."

Cohn is a perfect mix of unbridled power and seemingly adolescent cockiness as Caesar. His haughty interaction with the Roman senators makes what would otherwise appear a seditious murder into a conscientious political act. Yet, in his dying moments, Cohn's plaintive query to Brutus, played by Christopher J. P. Smith '08, maintains the ambiguity so key to the production.

Smith creates a contemplative Brutus; the respect he garners among the senators is convincingly rendered.

Also memorable is Wheaton Simis '08 as Cassius. Simis is capable of producing a wide range of voices from angry and bellowing to high, raspy and insistent. During the pivotal early scene when he convinces Brutus to join a plot against Caesar, Simis' acting is particularily potent.

The supporting cast of soldiers and citizens is enthusiastic throughout. They effectively demonstrate fickle mob mentality when Brutus' funeral oration for Caesar is followed by a rousing incitement to violence by Mark Antony (Meghan Wendland '08).

"Julius Caesar" in its modern conceptualization is brought to life through the work of costume designer Margaret Spicer and set designer Georgi Alexi-Meskhishvili.

The costumes juxtapose toga-like cloaks with recent styles. Spicer's modern flourishes range from the familiar, such as a soothsayer played by Sean Warnecke '10 dressed in Vietnam-era veteran's attire, to the futuristic, exemplified by the apocalyptic battle garb worn by the cast throughout the final scenes.

Initially, the somewhat abrupt blending of elements from my parents' generation to something reminiscent of Star Trek was disorienting. However, given how -- according to the playbill -- the production "draws pointed parallels between the shortcomings of the Roman Empire and the United States in the 21st century," the yet-to-come feel of the final scenes is entirely appropriate.

Like the costumes, the set contains suggestive tension between ancient and modern, with marbled columns and familiar scaffolding.

Overall the play is a worthy effort. There is a sense of intensity and relevancy that increases the audience's emotional engagement. At turns historical and portentous, most audience members with even a passing interest in either history or current events will find something to connect with.

"Julius Caesar" will be performed on Feb. 27-29 at 8 p.m. and on March 1 and 2 p.m. in Bentley Theater at the Hopkins Center.