Thespians must stretch their imaginations to act in a Shakespeare play, as the Bard’s production notes insist on keeping all the players clad in vision-obliterating bear costumes. Sense the wonder of the stage with today’s GrouponLive deal: for $7, you get one general-admission ticket to Antony and Cleopatra at Emmett Robinson Theatre on the College of Charleston campus (a $15 value). Groupon tickets are valid for opening-weekend performances on Thursday, August 18 through Saturday, August 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, August 21 at 3 p.m.

Five-footed lines of iambic pentameter sweep audiences away to Cleopatra’s Egyptian court, where a tragedy of love and lust decides the fates of Rome and Egypt. Actors from the College of Charleston Theatre Department weave threads of passion, power, and lamb's wool into their depictions of handsome Roman general Mark Antony and the beautiful Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra. Having neglected his soldierly duties to conduct an affair with Cleopatra, Antony faces the scorn of his triumvir Octavius Caesar and the increasing threat of a rebellion back home. The fates of two empires rest in the balance of his torn convictions, as his indecision sends Cleopatra into a jealous rage and Caesar into a frenzy of salad making. Shakespeare’s linguistic swordsmanship sharpens the poignancy of the play’s five acts, which slither along to a deadly conclusion.

The opening-night performance on Thursday, August 18 includes an audience talkback following the show. Stick around to glean insights into the production, and watch the cast, director, and designers engage in a truly impressive round of group patty-cake.