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Antony and Cleopatra
Antony and Cleopatra, a tragedy by Shakespeare, printed in the First Folio of 1623, probably written 1606–7. Its chief source is the Life of Antony by Plutarch, as translated by Sir T. North. Minor sources include the plays by the countess of Pembroke and S. Daniel.
The play presents Mark Antony, the great soldier and noble prince, at Alexandria, enthralled by the beauty of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Recalled by the death of his wife Fulvia and political developments, he tears himself from Cleopatra and returns to Rome, where the estrangement between him and Octavius Caesar is terminated by his marriage to Octavia, Caesar's sister, an event which provokes the intense jealousy of Cleopatra. But the reconciliation is short-lived, and Antony leaves Octavia and returns to Egypt. At the battle of Actium, the flight of the Egyptian squadron is followed by the retreat of Antony, pursued to Alexandria by Caesar. There, after a momentary success, Antony is finally defeated. On the false report of Cleopatra's death, he falls upon his sword. He is borne to the monument where Cleopatra has taken refuge and dies in her arms. Cleopatra, fallen into Caesar's power but determined not to grace his triumph, takes her own life by the bite of an asp. See also All for Love. |
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Cite this article
MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Antony and Cleopatra." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Antony and Cleopatra." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-AntonyandCleopatra.html MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Antony and Cleopatra." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-AntonyandCleopatra.html |
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Antony and Cleopatra
Antony and Cleopatra, a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The play has had a fitful record in America. New Orleans saw it in 1838 with Ellen Tree and William Hield. Its first New York presentation seems to have come surprisingly late, not until George Vandenhoff and Mrs. Bland assumed the title roles in 1846. Infrequent subsequent mountings included those featuring Edward Eddy and Mme. Ponisi in 1859 and Joseph Wheelock and Agnes Booth in 1877. Spectacle was as important to these mountings as was drama. Interest flared in the play in the late 19th and early 20th century. For an 1889 revival headed by Kyrle Bellew and Mrs. Brown‐Potter, the critics twitted another sort of spectacle, the spectacle of two performers unsuited for their roles, and gave only cursory praise to Philip Goatcher's lavish settings. In 1909 the New Theatre opened with a physically sumptuous production of the play and with the Marlowe‐Sothern team giving their lushly poetic readings. Later notable 20th‐century revivals have been Katharine Cornell's 1947 production with Godfrey Tearle as her leading man and the Laurence Olivier– Vivien Leigh presentation in 1951. Vanessa Redgrave made a luminous queen in a misguided 1997 production Off Broadway.
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Cite this article
Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Antony and Cleopatra." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Antony and Cleopatra." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O149-AntonyandCleopatra.html Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Antony and Cleopatra." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O149-AntonyandCleopatra.html |
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Antony and Cleopatra
Antony and Cleopatra. Opera in 3 acts by Barber to lib. by comp. and F. Zeffirelli based on Shakespeare's play (1606–7). Comp. 1966, rev. 1974. Prod. NY Met 1966 (opening night of new theatre in Lincoln Center, 16 Sept.).
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Cite this article
MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "Antony and Cleopatra." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "Antony and Cleopatra." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-AntonyandCleopatra.html MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "Antony and Cleopatra." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-AntonyandCleopatra.html |
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