“Cymbeline”?! What the heck is “Cymbeline”?! It’s a demented – but nasty – little fairytale by Mr. Shakespeare which has its grimmer than Grimm moments. “Cymbeline’ opens tomorrow for a Halloween run at Cincinnati Shakespeare, a premiere for Cincy Shakes. This leaves the company only six plays away from completing Shakespeare’s canon. (I, for one, can’t wait for “Two Noble Kinsmen”…)

 The company’s tireless Rebecca Bowman took time out from her November wedding plans to fashion this “Cymbeline” primer, which includes plot and production information.

Thanks, Rebecca! (And find production information elsewhere at CinStages.com.)

First, here’s an intro, more or less straight from the Cincinnati Shakespeare press release: When King Cymbeline’s only daughter Imogen secretly marries against his wishes, the king banishes his daughter’s young groom, Posthumus, from court. In Rome, Posthumus runs into lecherous Iachimo, who tricks him into believing his bride is unfaithful.Posthumus orders his servant Pisanio to kill Imogen then sinks into despair. Meanwhile, Imogen flees from her wicked stepmother and the queen’s loathsome son into the wild forests of Wales – where she discovers her father’s long lost sons.

Snow White: In the original story, the wicked Queen creates a poisoned apple that sticks in Snow White’s throat causing her to fall into a death-like slumber.  In “Cymbeline,” watch the “poisoned apple” closely:  the Queen thinks that the doctor has given her a poison, which she gives to Pisanio (a servant to princess Imogen’s husband) in order to get him out of the way.  She tells Pisanio the potion is a “restorative.”  BUT the doctor knows the Queen is up to know good and switches the poisoned potion (black apple) for a potion that will make the drinker fall into a death-like slumber and awaken later (red apple).  Pisanio gives the potion to Imogen (thinking it is a “restorative”) who takes it when she is feeling ill.  She falls into a dead-faint and is found by Belarius and his sons, who mourn her in a loyal, seven dwarfs fashion and lay her to rest (unburied) in the woods.

More Snow White: Pisanio, Posthumous’ servant, is instructed to kill Imogen in the woods, but takes pity on her and tells her to run away (a la the kind-hearted huntsman.)  He even creates a bloodied handkerchief to give to Posthumous in order to convince him that Imogen is dead. (In the original story, the huntsman gives the wicked Queen the heart of a deer.)

Little Red Riding Hood: When Imogen travels into the forest as the boy Fidele, she dons a red cape and hood as part of her disguise.  Some of the first people she runs into are wearing wolf skins (her long lost brothers, as it turns out.)

The Three Bears: Imogen takes refuge in the cave of Belarius and his sons (who are wearing wolf and bear skins in this production) and eats their food.  The men are at first taken aback to find a young person stealing their food, but then take her in as a younger brother. 

Rapunzel: Imogen is imprisoned in the castle by her wicked stepmother, the Queen.

Trojan Horse: The scheming Iachimo sneaks his way into Imogen’s bed-chamber by hiding in a trunk, which he asks Imogen to keep safe in her room.

Happily Ever After Ending!

Inspirations for this Production:

Grimm’s Fairy Tales

Fellini’s Satyricon

“Sleepy Hallow” film with Johnny Depp

Tim Burton

The Lord of the Rings

Classic Disney animation especially “Sleeping Beauty” and “Snow White”

Vertigo comic book series “Fables”

Cymbeline has been called “Shakespeare’s self-parody” by Harold Bloom and includes all of these Shakespearean plot conventions:

Father who refuses to recognize Daughter’s choice of suitor

Long lost family members who miraculously turn up in the  last act

Girl disguising herself as a boy

Loyal servant who refuses to commit murder on behalf of his master

Potion that feigns death

Spouses who think each other is dead only to be reunited in the last act

Last minute reprieve of prisoners

Husbands who lose/give away rings given by their wives with dire consequences

Betting on a woman’s virtue

Which Shakespeare Plays Has CSC Left to Produce After This?

King Richard II

King John

King Henry III

Timon of Athens

Two Noble Kinsmen

All’s Well that Ends Well

Other Tidbits:

This is the largest cast we’ve ever had: 18 people in all.  It would not have been possible before the renovations last year that created access between the backstage and the dressing rooms.

Wolf and bear head costumes are built on the same foam model heads used by taxidermists.

Over 300 gromets are used in the costumes for all the lacings in the shoes, dresses, etc.

Converse high-top sneakers with the toes removed (and painted gold) make excellent Roman sandals.