Love and war are universal themes that transcend time. Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra may be on a much grander scale than our lives, but it's still about the relationships and the decisions we make.
David Haugen, an assistant professor of theater, said he is directing the play because it is just a show he wanted to try some things on.
The show is unsupported, meaning that there is no formal funding. Haugen paid $40 out of his own pocket for props and to rent the space. The costumes were pulled from the School of Theater costume department.
It is a true collaboration and all involved were very generous with their time and talent, Jack Gilbert, a senior studying performance who plays Antony in the production, said.
When you graduate
this is a lot of what you do Haugen said.
He wanted to keep a low-budget aesthetic and show what can be done with no money. The play has been cut down from its usual three and a half hours to one and a half hours.
While Shakespeare's version calls for 32 actors, only nine are cast in this production. Most of the actors play multiple roles, sometimes only changing a hat to distinguish between characters.
I tend to be a lot more laid back than Antony. He just wants to relax and no one will let him mainly Caesar
Gilbert said about how he relates to his character.
Haugen said students should come to the show to see a great work of literature that doesn't get done very much and because there is a theatricality viewers can't get from a film.
Antony and Cleopatra is directed by David Haugen, assistant directed by John Hendel and stage managed by Lenae Everette. It features Jack Gilbert as Antony, Shiloh Morgenstern as Cleopatra and John Nutter as Caesar. Performances start at 8 p.m. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in Kantner Hall's Hahne Theater.
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Culture
Jen Pontzer
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