For ABC WEDNESDAY

“J” is for “Jokes.”
Practical jokes, that is.
Pranks – practical jokes – have a long history that goes back many centuries. There are quite a number of pranksters in Shakespeare’s plays and one of them was the Queen of Egypt.
In my ABC Wednesday effort last week, my letter “I” was for “Infatuation.”
Infatuation pretty accurately describes how Mark Antony of Rome fell for the Egyptian queen, Cleopatra, as Will Shakespeare wrote in his play “Antony and Cleopatra.”
In this play you’ve got one of the great love affairs of all time, because Cleo fell for Mark just as much as he did for her.
So what does this have to do with the letter “J” for practical jokes?

Well, it’s a kick to learn that Mark Antony, a commanding general and the most important guy in Rome – when Rome pretty much ruled the known world – had as the love of his life the high-spirited Egyptian Queen, who wasn’t above horsing around with pranks and practical jokes from time to time.
When I say this couple had a high old time together, I mean high. Mark Antony would occasionally get so drunk he would pass out.
Playful Cleo couldn’t resist.
CLEOPATRA: “I drunk him to his bed, then put my hat and clothes on him.”
So this powerful general and leader of the known world woke up to find himself dressed as an elegant, fashionable lady of that era.
That was one we can’t blame on Ashton Kutcher. :-)