Shakespeare's Antony & Cleopatra (1981 TV): Act 1, scene 1

[SailingMoominmama]

Shakespeare can be performed in anything, from modern night gowns to authentically reproduced elizabethan doublet and hose. In this production they went for a look inspired by the court of Charles I, when noblemen were fond of dressing up a manner they thought reflected classical antiquity. You can see the costumer's inspiration in the 1630-1640 paintings of Van Dyck. That's where the pearls and long swathes of looping fabric come from. I think it's rather nice and different.

[countrybluegrass]

This whole production has some of the most terrible costuming I've ever seen. Nobody in the ancient Greco-Roman world dressed like 16th century Englishmen.

[buffedtrainer]

I saw Jane Lapotaire on Broadway in "Piaf"..she won the Tony that year..she was AWESOME! (1980 or 1981)

[AragonTek]

Thanks So much! I'm reading the book while watching it on youtube!

[groovynes]

Woiw First hands down my favorite of His second I found it kinda odd to here a mild irish brouge from cleopatra's lips (not that I mind just saying) But beautiful thank you very much

[doctordoc33]

wahahahah oh no

wahahaha oh no

[doctordoc33]

the old cleopatra snake women is weird looking

as is sweaty hairy old stupid ugly man aka antony aka anthony with no 'h'

mmmmmmmmmmbbbbbbbbbbbbuuuuuuuu­uuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggg­gggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[heyspunkie]

agreed, she does look like a snake

thisis the worst adaptation ever

it ruins a good play with awful sets and awfuler acting

[rodders129]

'Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety'

[shamrockpenny]

Wow, they are fantastic. :) Thanks for posting!

[EJC661]

i am auditioning for antony. First of all who is he? and any tips??

[shamrockpenny]

Read the play. Even if you need to read the "No Fear" version, please, I beg you, do it justice.

[Rayarena]

Amazing, thousands of years later, we are still talking about Anthony and Cleopatra. This has to be the most celebrated love story of all times. It has been retold by everyone from Shakespeare to George Bernard Shaw and shot as a movie dozens of times. It's an immortal story that will still be told thousands of years from now. Love this version. Jane Lapotaire is great.

[countrybluegrass]

@Rayarena

Well, it was most likely a political affair, not some star-crossed romance. Cleopatra was a shrewd political operator and Marcus Antonius was making a power grab against Octavius who was Julius Caesar's chosen heir, Antonius was probably looking to use Caesar's illegitimate son by Cleopatra in an attempt to claim legitimacy over Caesar's great-nephew Octavius (who, being the victor, passed on the story that Antonius had been corrupted by that Ptolemy tart Cleopatra.)

[Rayarena]

@countrybluegrass You may be right, but I'm a romantic and I like to think of it as a great love affair. Look at all of the great literature that has been written based on the belief that it was a great love affair and look at how the world throughout the ages continues to be mesmerized by this couple.

[saaaraaa85]

thanks i'm taking "Shakespeare Tragedies & Romances" This semester and it's useful

thanks a lot

[D9l3tt]

Thank you for posting these scenes. The acting is superb from everyone - Jane Lapotaire is mesmerizing. She truly is of infinite variety.