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Some critics tell us that Antony and Cleopatra is one of Shakespeare's "lesser" plays which is strange since it's one of his best. And one of the best performances of this lesser but better play is an old radio broadcast - 1962 - by the Marlowe Dramatic Society. It starred Richard Johnson as Antony and Irene Worth as Cleopatra along with the youngsters Ian McKellen, Diana Rigg, Derek Jacobi, and Ian Holm in a bit part.

But for those who prefer the art from our far more visual age, there are various stage performances on video. One of the more entertaining is the 1984 TV movie where Antony is played by James Bond (Timothy Dalton), Cleopatra by the Georgie Girl (Lynn Redgrave), Charmian by Uhuru (Nichelle Nichols), and Pompey by Checkov (Walter Koenig). Sorry, Trekkers, we don't get Captain Kirk, Dr. McCoy, or Mr. Spock.

It's a good enough performance although the viewer might be a bit taken aback by seeing Mark Antony going around in what looks like a bathrobe and sporting a good healthy beard - the latter not being a typical adornment in the later Roman Republic. However, in the play when we first see Mark he's taking his ease with Cleopatra so we can't expect him to be wearing a formal toga or being decked out in full soldier's regalia. And there is a coin minted in 42 BC that shows Mark with facial hair.

But before you go to the expense and time of reading, listening, or seeing the play, you can get a bit of a summary of this best of Will's lesser plays. And if 't be true yond's what thee wanteth, just click h're.