For anyone that may have three hours to kill, Youtube is good place for it, and The National Theatre has uploaded Shakespeare’s famous tragedy Antony and Cleopatra for free to anyone who may be interested in perusing. Headlining this staged epic are acclaimed British thespians Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo along with a more than normal size cast who all had their own moments to shine. This version of the production which was staged back in 2018 is a classic tale of war, love, power and betrayal.
Antony and Cleopatra though among the Bard’s extensive body of work, isn’t as often staged as some of his more notable work such as Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, or Othello
Antony and Cleopatra though among the Bard’s extensive body of work, isn’t as often staged as some of his more notable work such as Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, or Othello, but is still a fascinating enough story nonetheless. It details the time spent between triumvir leader Mark Antony and Cleopatra who is the Queen of Egypt, as well as the events that then ensue as a result of their infatuation with one another. The other two triumvirate members, Lepidus and Octavius Caesar, have become frustrated with Antony and his neglect of his duties as a ruler as a result of his time spent with Cleopatra in Egypt. This comes to a head when word reaches Egypt that Antony’s wife is Fulvia has died, thus compelling him to return to Rome to reconvene with Caesar and Lepidus, who now also face a challenge from the ever rising Pompey and the army that he is growing. From there, jealously festers, rage builds, truces break, battles begin, and relationships crumble in this epic tale that illustrates the age old of adages of power and the price it comes with.
This play is long, so be prepared to devote adequate attention lest details be missed. The language is also obviously quite heightened as Shakespeare saw no exception when writing this play in his usual style, thus seeing no reason to scale back his use of verse. The actors are what make the production easier to watch, as everyone in the cast seems to understand the verse and are more than capable in their interpretation of the text. Fiennes shows his stage IQ with every scene, effortlessly rattling off monologues as if he himself wrote them. Okonedo speaks each line as if they were said for the very first time, showing the raw emotional range that audiences stand and clap for.
As well, though this particular play is classified as a tragedy, director Simon Godwin can be credited for his comedic instinct as there were many moments played up to a more comical tone as opposed to keeping things too dramatic, hence keeping the entire production from taking itself too seriously. The decision of deciding to modernize the wardrobe along with the implied present day time period, whilst still using the verse was also an interesting choice. The budget of this production is indeed very noticeable as well. The National Theatre is known for using its stage on somewhat of a circular swivel in order to do scene and location changes and was more than adequately used here; the overall production value has shown the money was well spent. Anything worth doing, is worth doing right, and The National Theatre took that to the bank in deciding to stage this play with such sophistication as the lights, sound cues, and transitions were all executed within expert scope.
Shakespeare may not be for everyone, but his work arguably set the standard for modern English theatre. His plays are a beacon of performance culture that perhaps everyone should take the time to see if given the chance to do so. The show’s run has been concluded for some time, but stay tuned as The National Theatre will soon be adding it to their streaming platform.
