Program Notes
Thank you for your patronage of our production of Antony and Cleopatra. Our company is in its infancy, with our team having no experience in the field whatsoever. This production, site, and bill are all created in a way that is intentionally unorthodox or improper from a traditional theatrical perspective. The rigid structure, extensive data, and focus on analysis offer a unique blend of physics and theater.
The Original Star-Crossed Lovers
The story of this Roman and Egyptian love is the original story of forbidden love, at least on this scale. You will be entranced by Egypt, plead with Octavian for mercy, and grieve for your kingdom alongside the power couple of the century, Marc Antony and Cleopatra VII.
The fascinating part of this play is how you will be in the position of the average Roman at the time, watching in horror and trepidation at the dumpster fire that was the second triumvirate and the pissing contest between the two most powerful men in the world.
This play, a tragic story of love and survival, actually retells the most defining moment of Roman history and the future of Europe. This battle led to the dominance of the Julio-Claudian dynasty in Roman Imperial politics for the rest of the Empire’s existence and the fall of Egypt as an autonomous superpower permanently.
Bending Gender and Sexuality Roles
Witness the most extraordinary reversal of gender roles of the year as Pharaoh Cleopatra VII is the puppet master behind Egypt’s near ascension to the greatest power in the world. At this time in the ancient era, “domination” was not just for the military.
In Roman private life, citizens would have to dominate everyone around them, leading to a societal structure that focused on asserting control over others. Typically, men dominated women, but here you will see how a woman assumes that role instead as the “dominator.” Marc Antony was a massive womanizer and finally met his match in Cleopatra. She ended up making him her puppet and, at her peak, controlled the entire eastern part of the Roman Empire.
This creative direction was likely influenced by Queen Elizabeth I, who was the queen of England during the time this was written. She was able to consolidate power in her own hands, defeat the Spanish Armada, and move the center of European power to England as a queen in a world of kings. This is not just the story of a Roman general and an Egyptian pharaoh, but a metaphor for the rule of Elizabeth I. Keep an eye out for this throughout the production!
Author Notes
Of course, this play was written by William Shakespeare. You would be hard-pressed to find a playwright from the Elizabethan Era with just as much fame as Shakespeare. It is actually not known when he was born, but it can be assumed to be between April 21-23 of 1564 based on his baptismal records. He grew up in a well-known and large family, his dad being in many influential political roles such as bailiff. He attended the King’s New School where he read classical authors such as Ovid and Cicero in Latin. This, combined with the popularity of mythology in theater at this time is likely a reason why most of his works are retellings of classical myths or legends. Later in his life, he married Anne Hathaway and had three children with her. Following this, he grew in popularity as a playwright and the rest of history!
Stylings of the Elizabethan Era
Just a quick word about the stylings and culture during the time this play was written. The theater was not a very noble profession, with the Puritans and London city fathers opting to ban it entirely. Queen Elizabeth’s patronage of the art kept it alive during these trying times. One of the most popular things to perform was classical myths. This is clearly seen in some other plays from the time such as Romeo and Juliet, which is likely a “modern” retelling of Pyramus and Thisbe by Ovid (one of the authors Shakespeare had studied). The true story of Marc Antony and Cleopatra VII is unknown, but this play serves as an artistic take on the legend.
Faithful Rendition
Above all else, we intend to give a true performance that reflects the work of Shakespeare. In our research, many disappointing articles of analysis were brought to light regarding the glorification of Shakespearian works. Brander Matthews, the first full-time professor of dramatic literature at Colombia University, wrote about the severe expectation bias readers and critics of Shakespeare's plays. Specifically drawing attention to a common analysis in Antony and Cleopatra, the foil of Cleopatra and Octavia. There is no resounding evidence that shows intent for this foil, but critics, with preconceptions about the play, look for content that is not present. The constant glorification of Shakespearian work leads to unfaithful insights and critiques into his plays. This is not to say that we find him overrated; rather, we will be performing the original play, not adding any additional analysis or depth. This is to remove any unintended content that Shakespeare did not find necessary. This company is committed to providing only the most faithful of performances to their audiences.