Dido, Queen of Carthage

Synopsis

In the wake of a change of regime in Troy, the Gods are busy re-establishing order among their human subjects. Concerned for the well-being of Aeneas and his men, who are shipwrecked and besieged at sea by storms after fleeing Troy, Aeneas' mother Venus persuades Jupiter to give the sufferers some respite. With his fellow survivors, Aeneas arrives on the strange African coast of Carthage. Haunted by the treachery and misery of the Trojans' defeat, he is greeted by the beautiful Queen Dido. At the contrivance of Venus and her son Cupid, Dido and Aeneas begin a passionate romance.

Our Review:

18 March 2013

Sitting in the ancient remains of the Rose theatre surrounded by candles, wrapped in blankets and drinking tea, is certainly an extraordinary setting for a night at the theatre watching House on the Hill Productions’ Dido, Queen of Carthage.

Christopher Marlowe’s play is a classic love triangle – with some extra help from the gods, Jupiter and Venus. Dido, an eligible Queen, is being pursued by numerous suitors but the one we follow in this production is Iarbas. She begins to come around to the idea of favouring him but the Gods have other plans.

Dressing Cupid up as the child of her son Aeneas, a Trojan war hero, Venus manages to change the direction of Dido’s affections. Aeneas, although enjoying the attention he is receiving, soon realises he must return to war and decides to leave Carthage. Dido is left heartbroken and realises her only option to escape her torment is suicide. A plethora of suicides ensue as Iarbas discovers the one he ...

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