What if Antony and Cleopatra had Facebook? MyZA

In their day Julius Caesar, Marc Antony and Cleopatra dominated the ancient world and were probably fuel for huge amounts of gossip by servants and citizens alike. A local production of Antony and Cleopatra will use modern elements such as Skype and CNN news reports to tell the gripping love story. Imagine the Social Media status updates from these three:

Cleopatra just bought a Persian carpet
Cleo and Julius are friends with benefits
Cleopatra asks; “Does my head look fat in this crown?”
Cleopatra has posted images of baby Caesarion
Juliu is looking for fat friends
Brutus is on a diet
Julius is feeling down and can’t get the knife out of his back
Mark Antony poked Cleo
Mark Antony and Cleo are now friends
Cleopatra has unfriended Arsinoe
Antony and Cleopatra have posted images of the twins
Cleopatra is studying herpetology
Cleopatra is looking for her cobra?

The Port Elizabeth Shakespeare Society is celebrating 40 years of Shakespeare in the park by presenting the Port Elizabeth premiere of Shakespeare’s Antony Cleopatra from 14 to 19 February at the Opera House – not the Mannville Open Air Theatre (more about this later).

Themi Venturas’ production of this classic love story takes place against a modern setting in which both Rome and Egypt are stylistic ideas rather than actual places, with Rome being a place of businesslike, disciplined restraint, whilst Egypt is a hedonistic sensuous and relaxed contrast that seduces Antony and his men away from the ‘stuck up’ Rome. Within this intriguing milieu we see one of history’s most famous and tempestuous love stories – a love story that turns the world on its head. With an audio-visual backdrop that brings us all the latest technology, we see messengers appearing through Skype and battles being reported by CNN bringing the production an air of immediacy and contemporary relevance.

Venturas has directed three of the last 40 Shakespeares in the Park and is remembered for his innovative productions of Hamlet and Macbeth. It is fitting that he should direct this anniversary production as he cut his teeth in the park when he appeared as Adrian in Leslie French’s production of The Tempest, 39 years ago. He subsequently played in Macbeth, Othello, The Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet, and Twelfth Night mostly directed by the legendary Helen Mann whom he regards as his muse and mentor. Mr Venturas was also the founder of the PESF Young’Uns with whom he developed his directing skills. So many of those young people developed by the PESF have subsequently gone on to achieve greatness in their own performing Arts Careers. Since leaving Port Elizabeth, and settling in Durban, he has established himself as one of SA’s leading directors returning to Port Elizabeth regularly with many of his own shows.

The PE production stars Helen Flax as Cleopatra, and Andrew Horne as Antony, with stalwarts Jeremy Baylis and Andre Lemmer as Enobarbus and Lepidus respectively. The role of Octavius Caesar will be portrayed by newcomer Andrew White. The relatively young cast promises energy and augers well for the next 40 years of Shakespeare in PE. It was the great Andre Huguenet who said; “I look forward to the day when Port Elizabeth will be known as Stratford on the Baakens!” and Shakespeare in the Park has since become a PE institution.

Antony Cleopatra appropriately opens on 14 February – Valentines day – and offers couples a unique and romantic evening at the theatre.

The run is from 14 to 19 February in the PE Opera House and performances will take place nightly at 7:00 pm with an additional 3:00 pm matinee on Sunday 19 February. Ticket prices are R25.00 and R50.00.

Schools can book with Helen Wilkins on 041 511 789.
Block book 10 or more tickets with Rocky Mann: 084 560 0912.
Individual tickets can be purchased on the night at the door

Sadly, the production will not take place in Mannville, as the park venue has been vandalized making it almost impossible to be used this year. The PE Opera house has come to the rescue and has made the Main Theatre available for one week so that the anniversary celebration can go ahead as planned.