Dec 17, 2009

The Oxford Dictionary of Plays | Antony and Cleopatra

Antony and Cleopatra (The Tragedie of Anthonie, and Cleopatra)

Author: William Shakespeare

First Performance: c.1606, London

Published: 1623

Genre: Trag. in 5 acts; blank verse and prose

Setting: Egypt, Rome, Messina, Misenum, Syria, Athens, and Actium, c.40–30 bc

Cast: 30m, 4f, extras

Mark Antony, one of the triumvirs ruling the Roman Empire after the defeat of Brutus (see Julius Caesar) is captivated by the beautiful Queen Cleopatra of Egypt. News comes that Antony's wife has died and that the Roman Empire is threatened with enemies, and Antony is summoned to Rome to help defend it. To ease the tension between Antony and another triumvir, Octavius Caesar, Antony marries Octavius' sister Octavia. The triumvirs make peace with their main enemy Pompey. But conflict soon returns: Antony resents...

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The Oxford Dictionary of Plays | Antony and Cleopatra

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