The Rival Queens

By the age of 30, Alexander III of Macedon, commonly known as Alexander the Great, had mastered a vast empire. But the brilliant young warrior-king was unable to master his own passions or those of his generals and closest friends and advisors. Court intrigue thus threatened to undo all that Alexander had managed to do.

Considered one of Nathaniel Lee's best tragedies, The Rival Queens, or, The Death of Alexander the Great dramatizes a story of the rivalry between Alexander the Great's two wives: Roxana, his first, and Statira, who displaced her. The play was first performed at London's Theatre Royal by the King's Company. It was influenced by Gauthier de Costes, seigneur de la Calprenède's, Cassandre. - Summary by Brian Fullen

Cast List

Alexander the Great: Brian Fullen Clytus, Master of his Horse: Beeswaxcandle Lysimachus, Prince of the Blood: ARodrigo Hephestion, Alexander's Favourite: ToddHW Cassander, Son of Antipater, Conspirator: Greg Giordano Polypercon, Commander of the Phalanx, Conspirator: Glys Philip, Brother to Cassander, Conspirator: Jenn Broda Thessalus, the Median, Conspirator: Robert H. Cherny Perdiccas, Great Commander: Alexandria Adair Eumenes, Great Commander: James R. Hedrick Meleager, Great Commander: David Purdy Aristander, a Soothsayer: Alan Mapstone Sysigambis, Mother of the Royal Family: dc Statira, Daughter of Darius, Married to Alexander: Rapunzelina Roxana, Daughter of Cohortanus, first Wife of Alexander: ShrimpPhish Parisatis, Sister to Statira, in Love with Lysimachus: Sonali Ekka Darius, Father of Statira, a Ghost: Alan Mapstone Statira, Mother of Statira, a Ghost: dc Chorus: Melanie K. A Slave: Inkell Sir Char. Scroop, Baronet, Prologue to Alexander: Brian Fullen John Dryden, To Mr. Lee, on his Alexander: Alan Mapstone Nathaniel Lee, The Epistle Dedicatory and Epilogue to Alexander the Great: Larry Wilson Editor: Brian Fullen Stage Directions: Brian Fullen Proof Listener: Glys