Antony and Cleopatra
May. 16th, 2011 04:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
magidYesterday I ushered for ASP's Antony and Cleopatra at the Modern Theater, downtown. I hadn't been to the space before; it's a very nice place. It looks like it was refurbished not so long ago, with some interesting architectural pieces on the lobby walls. The stairs up to the balcony go by the front arch of a window, giving a great view of the street and the pediments on the columns outside. Inside, it seats around 185, at least the way it was configured; I think the stage could have come out more if it were configured differently. Also, there are some wonderful murals on the walls.
The set was fairly minimal, with a round platform on one side (clear in the middle, with descending lights above it), and the back of the stage lined with what looked like mattresses divested of everything but their springs. There were a lot of other lights as well, some of them too bright for me because I was sitting off to the side with the other ushers. As is usual for them, ASP had actors not only on the stage but in the walkways, and even on the balcony at one point.
Costuming was creative historical, in that it was definitely evocative of Greece and Egypt while not necessarily being completely period accurate. I was surprised, however, that Cleopatra wore a long robe at one point that was, um, extremely sheer over a skirt but nothing else.
And in fact, that reflected the tone of the dynamic portrayed between Antony and Cleopatra, which wasn't just about love, but included power plays and some light domination too. There are still parts of this play I don't like (that whole "reports of my death have been exaggerated" thing can be used once (Romeo and Juliet), but twice feels too easy; deus ex machina foreshadowing with soothsayers; Antony's bowing to political exigency in his second marriage; etc.), but this was a fascinating production. I'm always curious to see how the sea battle is handled*: they chose a pantomime with three masked figures carrying three boats to much canned-audience appreciation (and later the live audience appreciation as well). It worked pretty well.
In short, worth seeing if you like the play.
* My favorite included long waves of fabric held at each end for water, while my least favorite had video of some (land) animals fighting.
The set was fairly minimal, with a round platform on one side (clear in the middle, with descending lights above it), and the back of the stage lined with what looked like mattresses divested of everything but their springs. There were a lot of other lights as well, some of them too bright for me because I was sitting off to the side with the other ushers. As is usual for them, ASP had actors not only on the stage but in the walkways, and even on the balcony at one point.
Costuming was creative historical, in that it was definitely evocative of Greece and Egypt while not necessarily being completely period accurate. I was surprised, however, that Cleopatra wore a long robe at one point that was, um, extremely sheer over a skirt but nothing else.
And in fact, that reflected the tone of the dynamic portrayed between Antony and Cleopatra, which wasn't just about love, but included power plays and some light domination too. There are still parts of this play I don't like (that whole "reports of my death have been exaggerated" thing can be used once (Romeo and Juliet), but twice feels too easy; deus ex machina foreshadowing with soothsayers; Antony's bowing to political exigency in his second marriage; etc.), but this was a fascinating production. I'm always curious to see how the sea battle is handled*: they chose a pantomime with three masked figures carrying three boats to much canned-audience appreciation (and later the live audience appreciation as well). It worked pretty well.
In short, worth seeing if you like the play.
* My favorite included long waves of fabric held at each end for water, while my least favorite had video of some (land) animals fighting.