THE STORY – Antony and Cleopatra

Click here to view larger version and download the story.

The story begins shortly after the events of Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar: Caesar has been assassinated and the conspirators led by Brutus and Cassius have been defeated. Rome is now ruled by a triumvirate of Mark Antony (Julius Caesar’s loyal friend), Octavius Caesar (Julius Caesar’s great nephew and adopted heir) and Marcus Lepidus (one of Julius Caesar’s generals).

The play begins in Alexandria, where Antony is being entertained by his lover, Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. Antony’s soldiers comment on the fact that he neglects all business and refuses to hear messengers from Rome, because he is so infatuated with the queen. Antony, however, must return to Rome and reconcile with Octavius Caesar, in order to fight their common enemy, Sextus Pompeius (Pompey).

To secure their political alliance, Antony marries Octavius Caesar’s sister, Octavia. However, Antony’s general Enobarbus predicts he will return to Egypt and to Cleopatra. The triumvirs (Antony, Octavius Caesar and Lepidus) meet with Pompey to negotiate a truce, then celebrate with extensive drinking and revelling.

Antony goes to Athens with his new wife, Octavia, but trouble begins almost immediately as Octavius Caesar and Lepidus break the truce with Pompey without Antony’s consent. Octavia travels to Rome to mediate between her brother and husband. While she is gone, Antony returns to Egypt and Cleopatra. This insult to Octavius is exacerbated by reports that Antony has crowned himself and Cleopatra as rulers of Egypt and the eastern provinces of the budding Roman Empire. Antony, in turn, finds fault with Octavius’s actions: not only has he kept all of the defeated Pompey’s dominions for himself, but also those of Lepidus, whom he has removed from power and imprisoned.

Antony prepares to battle Octavius Caesar at Actium. He ignores the advice of Enobarbus and his other most experienced soldiers, who urge him to fight on land. Instead, Antony decides to indulge Cleopatra’s desire for a sea battle, to which she has pledged her Egyptian fleet. However, in the midst of the battle, Cleopatra flees with her sixty ships. To everyone’s surprise, Antony abandons the battle to follow her.

Disgraced and humiliated, Antony nonetheless resolves to face Octavius again, this time on land. However, many of Antony’s followers have lost faith in him and begin to desert him, including the loyal Enobarbus. When Antony hears of his desertion, he wishes him well and sends his wealth after him. Enobarbus is struck with remorse and dies speaking Antony’s name. The land battle goes well for Antony, but when Octavius again shifts the fighting to the sea, Antony loses and his fleet surrenders.

Antony believes that Cleopatra has betrayed him and expresses a desire to kill her. Upon hearing this, Cleopatra decides to lock herself into her monument and send word to Antony that she has killed herself, uttering Antony’s name. She hopes this will win his sympathy again. Antony decides to kill himself, but only succeeds in wounding himself gravely. A messenger then arrives to tell him that Cleopatra has sent for him. Antony is brought to her in her monument, where he dies. Cleopatra then contrives to kill herself with the help of a poisonous serpent, denying Octavius Caesar the pleasure of parading her through the streets of Rome as his prisoner.

PLAY GUIDE

A Guide to William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra

Click here to view larger version and download the play guide.

CONTENTS:

• An Introduction to the play and to Bard’s production
• Who’s Who in Antony and Cleopatra plus Questions
• What Happens in Antony and Cleopatra plus Questions

Bard’s Production of Antony and Cleopatra
Notes from a conversation with Director Scott Bellis

In his staging of this production, director Scott Bellis has focused on the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra rather than the political events. This relationship is bigger than everything around them. The action will follow the traditional script with events unravelling in chronological order.

Although the production is rooted in the historical Roman period, the staging is more emblematic than literal. The approach is similar to the ones we took for our recent productions of Richard II and Julius Caesar which offered a broad sense of the classical period. Costumes will be simple and less ornate than the actual attire of era. The set too will offer an open but minimalist platform, with the courts of Egypt and Rome on opposite sides of the stage defined by simple but powerful props.

With only 15 actors, the battle scenes will not be played out on stage. They will be represented by movement and through the use of huge banners representing the Roman legions and Egyptian army. The banners will accumulate on the set, giving a sense not only where we are, but of where we have been.

Notes on the Set Design
From the Mainstage Set Designer Drew Facey

One of the challenges for the set was the huge scope of location and period: from Messina, Italy in 1910 to ancient Rome and ancient Egypt a millennia earlier. The design is based on the familiar footprint of the Mainstage theatre although the central forestage is lower than in previous years bringing the performers closer to the audience thus creating a more intimate connection to the plays.

The set is based on classical architectural elements: columns, arches and grand staircases. However, these elements have been simplified through a contemporary eye creating a gentle simplicity to the overall design. The color palette is high contrast and also contemporary, with the walls, arches and columns being soft whites and creams in contrast with a slate grey and dark charcoal floor. Further contrast is added in small dashes of black. The floor design is based on the tile work of Italian piazzas but rendered in a granite finish, almost looking like concrete.

For Antony and Cleopatra, we stripped everything down to the simplest form. The director described the quality he was after as a ‘simple theatricality’. We move between Rome and Egypt several times throughout the play and the two locations will be represented often by where scenes are staged on the set. To delineate between the two armies, strong, almost modern banners are placed around the space. The Roman banners are red with a graphic eagle and laurel wreath and the Egyptian banners are linen with a hieroglyph of the Eye of Horace and a scarab with outstretched wings.

Who’s Who in Antony and Cleopatra

Please note: not all characters in Shakespeare’s play appear in Bard’s production. Many of the characters in the play were actual historical figures, however, Shakespeare often made changes for dramatic effect.

The Romans:

Known as ‘Octavius’ in Julius Caesar but as ‘Caesar’ in Antony and Cleopatra, Octavius Caesar was the great-nephew and adopted heir of Julius Caesar. Although just nineteen years old when Julius Caesar died in 44 BC, Octavius positioned himself to share power over Rome with two others as part of a triumvirate. After the events of Antony and Cleopatra, Octavius Caesar consolidated his power gradually, changed his name to Augustus Caesar, and became the first emperor of Rome.

“I had rather fast from all four days than drink so much in one.”

Marc Antony also appears in both Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra. In Shakespeare’s earlier play, Antony is portrayed as a good friend of Julius Caesar’s who inspires the people to revenge in his moving funeral oration. He then leads the army against Caesar’s assassins, along with Octavius Caesar and Lepidus. As part of the triumvirate, he had jurisdiction over the eastern part of the Roman empire, including Egypt where he met Cleopatra. In both plays, Antony is portrayed as a man who is a valiant general, prone to drinking and reveling, but popular among his soldiers. At the end of the play he is 52 years old.

“I would they’d fight i’the fire or i’the air; we’d fight there too.”

When Julius Caesar was dictator of Rome, Lepidus was his Master of Horse (essentially his deputy). Although he was part of the triumvirate from the start, he is portrayed in both Julius Caesar and in Antony and Cleopatra as less powerful than Octavius or Antony. When Lepidus tried to claim Sicily, Octavius removed him from the triumvirate and forced him to retire. He spent the rest of his life in obscurity.

“What’s amiss, may it be gently heard....touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms.”

After the death of his first wife, Antony agrees to marry Octavius Caesar’s sister, Octavia, in order to secure their alliance. Antony, however, leaves her to return to Egypt and Cleopatra, and the alliance falls apart. In history, Octavia and Antony had two daughters together, and Octavia took in Antony and Cleopatra’s three children after their parents’ deaths and cared for them as her own.

“The Jove of power make me most weak, most weak, your reconciler.”

Another of Octavius Caesar’s closest advisers, Agrippa was instrumental in his military victories. He was the Roman naval commander at Actium.

“Dear lady, have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied of him that caused it.”

One of Octavius Caesar’s followers, Dolabella is kind to Cleopatra in her captivity.

“I have performed your pleasure and my promise.”

One of Octavius Caesar’s advisers, Thidias is given the task of negotiating with Cleopatra on Caesar’s behalf. When Antony sees Cleopatra receiving him warmly, he orders Thidias whipped.

“Give me grace to lay my duty on your hand.”

Mecaenas is one of Octavius Caesar’s advisers. In history, Maecenas was a peaceful man who was a generous benefactor of writers and artists. Horace and Virgil were among the poets he supported.

“She’s a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her.”

One of Antony’s most loyal soldiers, Enobarbus has a unique perspective on the actions of the title characters, which he shares with the audience. His desertion, Antony’s response and Enobarbus’s fate are some of the most discussed aspects of this complex story.

“The tears live in an onion that should water this sorrow.”

Diomedes, Canidius, Philo and Dercetus are soldiers in Antony’s army. They share their frustrations with some of Antony’s military decisions.

“The greater portion of the world is lost with very ignorance.”

One of Antony’s followers, Eros remains loyal to Antony to the end.

“Turn from me then, that noble countenance, wherein the worship of the whole world lies.”

Sextus Pompeius (Pompey) was the younger son of the famous Pompey the Great, defeated by Julius Caesar shortly before his assassination. After his father’s death, Pompey (Sextus) and his followers occupied Sicily. From there, they were able to raid ships bringing goods to Rome, causing great trouble for the triumvirate.

“The people love me, and the sea is mine.”

 A follower of Pompey, Menas advises Pompey to murder Octavius, Antony and Lepidus while they are celebrating their truce as guests aboard Pompey’s ship.

“Wilt thou be lord of the whole world?”

The Egyptians:

Cleopatra was one of the most famous women in history. She initially ruled Egypt along with her father, then with two different brothers, then eventually, alone. She was the lover of Julius Caesar and was in Rome when he was assassinated. She returned to Egypt, and in 40 BC Marc Antony arrived and they became lovers.

“I am fire and air; my other elements I give to baser life.”

Charmian and Iras are Cleopatra’s companions. They remain with their mistress to the end.

“I love long life better than figs.”

Alexas is one of Cleopatra’s chief advisers.

“You think none but your sheets are privy to your wishes.”

A Soothsayer in Cleopatra’s court offers people wisdom about the future.

“In nature’s infinite book of secrecy, a little I can read.”

Seleucus is Cleopatra’s treasurer. He reveals that she has not been completely honest in her accounts.

“I had rather seal my lips, than, to my peril, speak that which is not.”

A Messenger brings Cleopatra bad news and is beaten for it.

“To punish me for what you make me do seems much unequal.”

Questions (Before attending a performance):

• Which of the characters seem most interesting to you? Why?
• Which of the quotes listed above express things you have felt?
• What do you predict will happen when these characters encounter one another?

Questions (After attending a performance):

• With which of the characters did you identify most? Why?
• Did the portrayal of any of the characters surprise you? Please discuss.
• Did your response to any of the characters surprise you? Please discuss.

What Happens in Antony and Cleopatra

The story begins shortly after the events of Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar: Caesar has been assassinated and the conspirators led by Brutus and Cassius have been defeated. Rome is now ruled by a triumvirate of Mark Antony (Julius Caesar’s loyal friend), Octavius Caesar (Julius Caesar’s great nephew and adopted heir) and Marcus Lepidus (one of Julius Caesar’s generals).

The play begins in Alexandria, where Antony is being entertained by his lover, Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. Antony’s soldiers comment on the fact that he neglects all business and refuses to hear messengers from Rome, because he is so infatuated with the queen. Antony, however, must return to Rome and reconcile with Octavius Caesar, in order to fight their common enemy, Sextus Pompeius (Pompey).

To secure their political alliance, Antony marries Octavius Caesar’s sister, Octavia. However, Antony’s general Enobarbus predicts he will return to Egypt and to Cleopatra. The triumvirs (Antony, Octavius Caesar and Lepidus) meet with Pompey to negotiate a truce, then celebrate with extensive drinking and reveling.

Antony goes to Athens with his new wife, Octavia, but trouble begins almost immediately as Octavius Caesar and Lepidus break the truce with Pompey without Antony’s consent. Octavia travels to Rome to mediate between her brother and husband. While she is gone, Antony returns to Egypt and Cleopatra. This insult to Octavius is exacerbated by reports that Antony has crowned himself and Cleopatra as rulers of Egypt and the eastern provinces of the budding Roman Empire. Antony, in turn, finds fault with Octavius’s actions: not only has he kept all of the defeated Pompey’s dominions for himself, but also those of Lepidus, whom he has removed from power and imprisoned.

Antony prepares to battle Octavius Caesar at Actium. He ignores the advice of Enobarbus and his other most experienced soldiers, who urge him to fight on land. Instead, Antony decides to indulge Cleopatra’s desire for a sea battle, to which she has pledged her Egyptian fleet. However, in the midst of the battle, Cleopatra flees with her sixty ships. To everyone’s surprise, Antony abandons the battle to follow her.

Disgraced and humiliated, Antony nonetheless resolves to face Octavius again, this time on land. However, many of Antony’s followers have lost faith in him and begin to desert him, including the loyal Enobarbus. When Antony hears of his desertion, he wishes him well and sends his wealth after him. Enobarbus is struck with remorse and dies uttering Antony’s name. The land battle goes well for Antony, but when Octavius again shifts the fighting to the sea, Antony loses and his fleet surrenders.

Antony believes that Cleopatra has betrayed him and expresses a desire to kill her. Upon hearing this, Cleopatra decides to lock herself into her monument and send word to Antony that she has killed herself, uttering Antony’s name. She hopes this will win his sympathy again. Antony decides to kill himself, but only succeeds in wounding himself gravely. A messenger then arrives to tell him that Cleopatra has sent for him. Antony is brought to her in her monument, where he dies. Cleopatra then contrives to kill herself with the help of a poisonous serpent, denying Octavius Caesar the pleasure of parading her through the streets of Rome as his prisoner.

Questions (Before attending a performance):

• Can you think of occasions in the story in which political or military decisions are made for personal, emotional reasons? Why do you think that happens? What is the impact on the story and on history?
• • In what ways are Antony and Cleopatra different from the other characters in the play? Are you surprised by their fate?
• • The play includes several very powerful people, for example, Cleopatra, Antony and Octavius Caesar. How does each person’s power differ? Where does it come from? What are their different attitudes toward power? Which of the characters do you admire most? Why?

Questions (After attending a performance):

• • How did the production present so many different locations clearly? How did you know when the scene was in Egypt? in Rome? on a ship? on a battlefield?
• • Some of the actors played more than one role. How could you tell they were playing different characters (instead of the same character in a different costume)?
• • Did anything about the end of the play surprise you? Please discuss.