Cymbeline

Staib Park, Hackensack, NJ

August 4, 2004

An audience perspective of the opening scene from the show.  Two courtiers discuss the goings on in the court of King Cymbeline namely the recent marriage of princess Imogen to the poor but noble Posthumous.  With the help of the wicked queen, Imogen's stepmother, Posthumous is banished to Rome.

On arriving at friend's house in Rome, Posthumous (John Trigonis) is greeted by the slimey con man  Iachimo (Freeman Borden).  In an attempt to get Posthumous' expensive ring, Iachimo bets him that he can bed Imogen.  Posthumous, confident in his virtuous wife, accepts the silly bet

Upon arriving in Britain, Iachimo (Freeman Borden) finds that Imogen (Laura Malone) is a little more fiery and formidable than other courtesans that he has seduced and tries to gain her trust instead.

He instead sneaks into her bedroom via a clothes trunk to steal a personal item of hers so he can "prove" he won the bet.

The idiotic prince Cloten (Cedric Hill) tries to woo Imogen as well by serenading her in the wee hours of the morning.

and by his usual smooth moves.  Imogen sends him packing.

Back in Rome a stunned Posthumous (John Trigonis) and Philario (L. Robert Johnson) witness Iachimo (Freeman Borden) produce Imogen's bracelet.

At Cymbeline's (Tim Baird) court, the Roman ambassador Lucius (L. Robert Johnson) arrives to a long overdue tribute that Britain owes Rome.  Cymbeline refuses and war is declared.

The queen (Tammy Dalton-Brown) schemes to manipulate the king as her simple son Cloten (Cedric Hill) listens intently

Thinking that Imogen has been unfaithful, Posthumous sends a letter to his trusted servant Pisanio (Chance Parker) to kill Imogen.

Pisanio decides instead to tell her mistress of its contents and convinces Imogen (Laura Malone) to escape to Rome to confront Posthumous.

Cloten (Cedric Hill) corners Pisanio (Chance Parker) to find out where Imogen has fled.

In the woods of Wales, the Lord Belarius (Clark Williams) has raised the king's two other children Guiderius (Tiffany Clementi) and Arviragus (Hannah Wolfe) as his own.  He stole the children to get revenge on the king for wrongfully banishing him.

A disguised Imogen meets up with Belarius' family and is taken in.  Very sick she takes some medicines given to her by Pisanio and in turn by the queen.  The queen thinking they were poisons but are in reality sleeping potions. 

Guiderius (Tiffany Clementi) confronts the pompous Cloten and challenges him to a fight.

Guiderius (Tiffany Clementi), having dispatched of Cloten by chopping off his head, returns to her family and a worried Belarius (Clark Williams) wonders what this turn of events portends.

Imogen is mourned as "dead" by her Guiderius and Arviragus after the sleeping potion has taken affect.

Having emerged victorious over the invading Roman army, Cymbeline addresses Iachimo, who came with the invading force, about his missing daughter.

Long winded Iachimo (Freeman Borden) severally tries the king's (Tim Baird) patience.

Belarius reveals the true identity of the girls to the king.  In the end all are reconciled and through a divine intervention Posthumous and Imogen live happily ever after.

To view other venue pages

Shipyard Park    Pier A Park    Sinatra Park   Kenilworth Borough Hall    Staib Park  

Hackensack Arts Center   Hamilton Park Van Vorst Park   Stratford Library   Meadowland Park   

Long Pond Iron Works State Park   Secaucus Amphitheater

To Return to the main Cymbeline Page

To view text, character descriptions, play synopsis and other information on Cymbeline visit our Cymbeline section in our on-line Shakespeare Library.

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