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Antony: Alec
McCowan |
Antony and Cleopatra
Prospect Theatre Company, Old Vic Theatre,
1977
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Antony: Alec
McCowan |
| Plot Summary: Octavius Caesar (later renamed to Augustus Caesar, son of the
murdered Julius Caesar), Antony, and Lepidus form the Roman triumvirate that rules the Western world. Lepidus leaves the triumvirate, and Caesar and Antony are left to rule the
world. Antony, though married to Fluvia, lives in Alexandria, Egypt with his mistress
Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt. Fueled by a disgust at his lifestyle in Egypt and anger over the wars caused by Antony's relatives, Caesar calls Antony home to Rome.
Antony agrees, but only after Fluvia dies of an illness. Once in Rome, Caesar and Antony try to make amends through the
marriage of Antony to Caesar's sister Octavia. Antony soon deserts
Octavia, however, and returns to live with Cleopatra. Caesar, enraged, vows to attack and regain control
of Egypt from Antony and Cleopatra. Caesar's army is more powerful and more skillful, and soon approaches defeat of
Antony. Enobarbus, Antony's best friend, deserts him and joins Caesar's army. However, Enobarbus becomes overcome with
regret and remorse for leaving Antony, and kills himself near Caesar's headquarters.
Antony, facing defeat, asks Eros (another
friend) to kill him. Eros cannot, and instead kills himself. Antony then kills himself by falling on his sword. Cleopatra, in grief over Antony's death and determined never to fall under Caesar's command commits suicide by allowing poisonous asps to bite her. Cleopatra's main attendant (Charmian) dies in the same manner, while her second attendant (Iras) dies from stress and grief over Cleopatra's death. from... Matt Monroe's UNC Shakespeare Summaries |
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