Antony and Cleopatra
The Oxford Street Players are pleased to announce the Spring 2013 production of Antony and Cleopatra, directed by Annie Pluto.
Shakespeare's play about the world's most famous lovers begins after the assassination of Julius Caesar; Mark Antony becomes one of the three rulers of the Roman Empire, together with Octavius Caesar and Lepidus, and is responsible for the eastern part of the empire. He falls in love with Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, and settles in Alexandria. However, he is compelled to return to Rome when the empire is threatened by the rebellion of Sextus Pompey, the son of Pompey, who had been defeated by Julius Caesar. As his wife has just died Antony marries Octavius’ sister, Octavia, in an attempt to heal the rift between the two emperors. They make peace with Pompey. But, when Cleopatra hears about Antony’s marriage she flies into a jealous rage. Antony goes to Athens but when war breaks out between Caesar and Pompey, Antony sends Octavia back to Rome and returns to Egypt. Caesar is incensed with Antony’s behavior and he declares war on both Antony and Cleopatra. When the Romans arrive Antony chooses to fight on sea. The Egyptian navy is inadequate and when Cleopatra’s navy turns and flees, Antony follows them and Caesar defeats him. As Egypt is lost, Cleopatra goes to her tomb and sends a message to Antony that she is dead. Devastated Antony decides to kill himself. He botches the suicide and his followers take him to Cleopatra’s tomb, where he dies in her arms. Cleopatra’s life has reached its end. Having lost Antony and being at the mercy of Caesar, she resolves to commit suicide. She has someone bring her some poisonous snakes and incites them to bite her. Caesar arrives just after her death and orders that the two lovers be buried together.
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Oxford Street Players Alumni Speak
"OSP is truly my greatest accomplishment that I took from Lesley University. Never having acted in a Shakespeare play, I learned more about acting under Dr. Annie Pluto's direction than any other theatre group. My confidence not only as a performer, but as a student and person grew enormously with the wonderful people involved in the Oxford Street Players. All the other contributing teachers with OSP truly took the specific talents of each individual involved and made them shine."
- Shealan Anderson
"The Play, how can you articulate a feeling? The theater has always been a fascination of mine and going to Lesley University was my first chance to actually get a chance to step on a stage. It was a feeling of freedom and escape. And being on stage is only half of what makes theater great. The people and especially the director can make or break a show. Luckily being a part of the OSP feels like a family. Your cast members and you may bicker like siblings but there's always the undercurrent of love. Dr. Annie Pluto is like my mom away from home, she expects a lot from you, but it's only because she can see the potential in each member of her cast."
- Alexandria Lowther
Faculty Spotlight
Anne Elezabeth Pluto
Professor of Theatre and Literature
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Liv Cummins
Assistant Professor of Theatre
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