Antony and Cleopatra

Arkangel Shakespeare

By: William Shakespeare

Narrated by: Estelle Kohler, Ciaran Hinds, Ian Hughes, David Burke

Length: 3 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Mark Antony, one of the three rulers of the Roman world, has become the thrall of the fascinating Cleopatra. Affairs of state call him to Rome, but the attractions of the queen of Egypt prove impossible to resist. From one of history's greatest love stories Shakespeare builds this magnificent tragedy of the clash between love and duty.

Cleopatra is played by Estelle Kohler, Mark Antony by Ciaran Hinds, Ian Hughes is Octavious Caesar, and David Burke is Domitius Enobarbus.

Public Domain (P)2014 Blackstone Audio

Still great after all these years

The story is still captivating, and it is easy to forget how much of the English language we owe to Shakespeare.

While the performance is great, I found it hard to listen to Ciaran Hinds and not think of Caesar (who he plays on HBO/BBC's series Rome) instead of Antony. It's not his fault, but it was disorienting.

Great to listen to while reading the play

Good performances. Great to listen to while reading the play. Enobarbus in particular was well done.

A well done adaptation of Shakespeare's Roman Play

My least favorite of the Bard's plays. But this adaptation makes me think otherwise. Bravo!

Antony and Cleopatra: A classic

Such a great play and very well performed here. Would recommend to any Shakespeare fan or anyone interested in Ancient Rome.

ArkAngel is always a wonderful interpretation

Would you consider the audio edition of Antony and Cleopatra to be better than the print version?

The actors and the production is amazing... Always an impressive.. great for personal listening and reading, a great plus fabulous support for an English/Literature classroom. I use it as a supplement to my classroom.

What did you like best about this story?

A classic take on a true piece of history.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did listen in one sitting... It held my attention and was a pleasure.

Well Performed Classic

I liked the acting abilities of the characters and the music used to set the scene. Really entertaining retelling of an awesome Shakespearean play.

Immortal Longings

“Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have Immortal longings in me”
― William Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra

A great Shakespeare play, but one (for me) that is still overpowered by Shakespeare's earlier tragedies. The story is based on Plutarch's Lives (North's translation). The weight and strength of this play is, obviously, going to center on Cleopatra and Antony. They are fascinating as a couple (literary and political binaries) and Cleopatra is amazingly, spectacularly, flushed-out by Shakespeare. Their "love" story, even before Shakespeare, was destined for myth. But Shaksepeare makes us both root for their survival and their love even as we know the dark worm turns, the golden snake bites, and opportunism and luck eventually both come to an abrubt and tragic end.

Even with ALL of that, there isn't enough in this play (for me) to launch it into the highest Shakespearean orbit. I think part of this blame lies with me. I think I need to spend MORE time with the play. I think there are textures and shades that I missed. This play needs more than days, it needs and demands (like Cleopatra and Antony) attention. So, perhaps, I am giving too short of a stick to this play. I can buy that. I should also mention, beyond Antony and Cleopatra (and perhaps Caesar Augustus), the best lines of this play all come from Enobarbus.

Favorite Lines:

“In time we hate that which we often fear.”
- Act I, Scene 3

"WE, ignorant of ourselves,
Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers
Deny us for our good; so find we profit
By losin gof our prayers."
- Act II, Scene 1

"The Barge she sat in, like a burnished throwne,
Burned on the water."
- Act II, Scene 2

"And for his ordinary pays his heart
For what his eyes eat only."
- Act II, Scene 2

"Good madam, keep yourself within yourself"
- Act II, Scene 5

“The breaking of so great a thing should make
A greater crack: the round world
Should have shook lions into civil streets,
And citizens to their dens.”
- Act V, Scene 1

Fabulous

What a masterpiece of the English language. So thankful we read this in our literature class. This would be a pleasure to pass on to my children. To continue Shakespeare’s play for eternity.

Amazing play, very good performance.

Enjoyed all the performers. And the music helped enhance the reading. Great to look at text while listening. No lines omitted.