Long Distance Boos @ Shakespeare Theater Company
So, you think Flavor of Love 3 had some lovesick dramatic women? Well, Sinceer, Thing 2 and Black clearly are no match for the Queen of all Drama Queens: that’s right Cleopatra. Not only dramatic in her delivery but stunningly clever in her political dealings. Aligning herself first with Julius Caesar, then with Mark Antony after Caesars’ death, she solidified an alliance and power with Rome. An iconic image, Cleopatra has been portrayed in popular culture from Elizabeth Taylor’s role as the ruler herself in the film Cleopatra to HBO’s series Rome to numerous paintings.
Her downfall? Love.
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As the unofficial sequel to Julius Caesar, Shakespeare’s Anthony and Cleopatra concludes the fate of Rome after Caesar was murdered by a mob of Senators convinced he wanted to be King. The rap group-sounding trio Mark Antony, Lepidus and Lil Caesar ( formerly Octavius) are now rulers of Rome. In true playa fashion, Mark Anthony has abandoned his wife Fulvia in Rome to deal with kids and other boring crap while he spends his time in sensual delights in Egypt with Cleopatra. Things are peachy keen until Fulvia drops dead. Feeling slightly bad about the whole thing, he returns to Rome to find Lil Cees really mad at him for not being around while Rome is under attack from their rival Lil Pompey ( Pompey’s son). |
The best thing to do to appease Lil Cees? Well, marry his sister Octavia of course. Cleopatra is livid when she hears the news. She goes into a wild frenzy, rampaging around and lunging at her messenger. In the meantime, the Roman alliance has broken down due to disagreements with the war against Pompey. Mark Antony decides that the best thing to do is flee to Egypt, scorn his new wife and return to love making sessions with Cleopatra. The Romans do not take this very well.
What ensues is a battle of the high seas: Antony/Cleo vs. Octavius Caesar. After various wins and losses, the final victor is Octavius Caesar. Cleopatra surrenders her naval fleet in disgrace and retreats. Ashamed and verbally abused by Antony for giving up, Cleopatra decided to trick him into thinking she has committed suicide. That will teach him! Right? Unfortunately, Antony really did love Cleopatra and when he hears this (fake) news is so overcome by despair that he kills himself. Cleopatra then kills herself via poisonous snake bite.
For such a heavy play, there were many droll moments that added an airy freshness to what could have been a major heartbreaker. The fact that there was an intense, passionate love story intertwined with the political events of the Roman Empire, in my opinion, makes this performance all the more interesting compared to the rather dry Julius Caesar.
But this is not simply a love story, Anthony and Cleopatra deals with Xenophobia, cultural clashes, the excesses of political power and finally humiliating military defeat.
Cleopatra was seen as an outsider, a foreigner.
Rome viewed Egypt suspiciously and disdainfully.
The stark, austere demeanour of the Romans is juxtaposed by the carefree luscious lifestyle of the Egyptians.
Cleopatra and her maidens writhe around on plush pillows and drink wine while the Romans try and save their empire.
To Shakespeare, this was no mistake.
Cultural stereotypes were no strangers to his audience. Many questions arise- Do the lovers kill themselves out of despair for one another or because of their lost battles and subsequent shame? What drove them together in the first place- passion, love or power?
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The star of the show was truly Suzanne Bertish as Cleopatra. Her overly dramatic flounderings across the stage in no way seemed over the top. At times comical and at other desperate, she embodied the essence of powerful ruler yet worrisome lover. You don’t know if you should laugh or feel sorry for her when she hears the news of Mark Antonys marriage to Octavia. She practically attacks the messenger, accosting him with various questions like “How tall is she?” “What shape is her face?” “What is her voice like?”. Although this is quite a humorous scene owing much to her comical jealous girlfriend-like demeanour, this is actually quite a sad state of affairs as Cleopatra is struggling to keep a love she thinks is lost. |
INFO:
Running Time: 2:50 minutes, including one intermission.
When: Antony and Cleopatra is running in rep with Julius Caesar, and so the schedule is irregular. Anthony and Cleopatra runs Tuesday, May 20, June 3 and 17 and July 1 at 7.30 p.m.; Wednesday, May 21, and June 4 and 18 at 7.30 p.m. and July 2 at noon and 7.30 p.m. ; Friday, May 16 and 30, and June 13 and 27 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, May 24, June 7 and 21 and July 5 at 8 p.m. and May 31 and June 14 and 28 at 2 p.m.; and Sunday, May 18 and June 1 and 15 at 7.30 p.m. and May 25, June 8 and 22 and July 6 at 2 p.m.
Where: Harman Hall, 610 F. Street NW, Washington D.C.
Tickets: $23.50 - $79.75. There are discounts available for seniors and students. To order call 202.547.1122 or go to the website.
