Let’s hear it for cougars
Tony and Cleo get it on
by Christopher Key
Those of us of a certain vintage may still bear the scars of a disastrous movie called Cleopatra that nearly destroyed the reputations of some fine actors in the name of sheer Hollywood spectacle. Fortunately, there are some Shakespeare companies here in the Northwest that help heal those wounds by presenting more authentic versions of the original, Antony and Cleopatra.
Skagit River Shakespeare Festival director Trey Hatch freely admits that he has trouble categorizing this play. It takes a pretty big codpiece to let go of some directorial control and let the audience decide. Hatch does that and it makes this production at Skagit Valley College a rewarding experience.
Festival veteran Carolyn Hatch is nothing short of magnificent as the Queen of Denial. She is tempestuous, sensual and will make you forget you ever saw Liz Whatsername in the role. If you pay attention to the script, it’s quite clear that Cleo is a woman who has been around the pyramids a few times. Hatch made a wise choice by casting Marc Antony as a much younger man. That’s a factor that most directors seem to ignore and it helps put both characters in perspective.
Bjorn A. Whitney and Carolyn Travis play the title roles in the Skagit River Shakespeare Festival production of Antony and Cleopatra. Photo credit - Christopher Key
Bjorn A. Whitney portrays Marc Antony with a charming naïveté that reinforces the question Shakespeare asks: how can a man who is on the brink of conquering most of the western world throw it all away for a bang on a barge? That dilemma, so central to the plot, is wasted when an older actor is cast.
Historically, the events of this play follow hot on the heels of Julius Caesar and it helps to keep that context in mind. Rome is now ruled by the triumvirate of Antony, Octavius Caesar and Lepidus. Only Lepidus is immune to the tangled web woven by the Egyptian hottie. The wily David Cox not only gives Lepidus a vivid characterization, but also plays the Soothsayer and a Clown with obvious relish.
Another festival regular, Rob Slater, plays Octavius with his trademark intensity and swagger despite a bizarre wig that made me wonder if the Emperor had some gender identity issues. The thorn in the side of the triumvirate is Pompey, whose relationship with the executive branch is problematic. Miles McGillivray brings a blustering, macho presence to the role that is a delight to behold.
Enobarbus, the good soldier who agonizes over the idiocies of his commanders-in-chief, is played to perfection by Angus McLane and his sheer versatility never fails to astound me. I have not had the pleasure of seeing Adrien Gamache before. He brings a profound dignity and sensitivity to the role of Agrippa.
Tonja Myers doesn’t get much stage time as Octavia, the Emperor’s sister, who is a pawn in the political chess game. That’s a shame because she has a regal stage presence and a wounded dignity that makes this character sing. Alice Despopoulos and Shelby Ford are both delightful as Cleo’s handmaids.
The rest of the cast is a bit uneven at times and one hopes that will smooth out as the production progresses. Hatch has chosen to use an unornamented set with a thrust stage and it works very well along with the stark lighting.
Antony and Cleopatra plays July 29 through August 15 in the Philip Tarro Theatre at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon. There are both evening and matinee performances. See www.shakesnw.org for schedules and ticket pricing.
Did I mention that Cleo’s viper is very much alive and nearly steals the final scene?
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