Stream: Antony and Cleopatra
Sophie Okonedo was born to play Cleopatra. With her vigour, powerful voice and instinctive understanding of Shakespeare’s text, she embodies the role of the legendary queen of Egypt in every aspect. She is more than a match for the ageing Anthony, played in this production by theatre and film luminary Ralph Fiennes. This production by the National Theatre in 2018 directed by Simon Godwin is the fourth of the NT’s free streamed lockdown shows.
It is a play of 42 short scenes which Shakespeare wrote immediately after Macbeth in 1606-1607. It charts the fall of Anthony, from being one of the ruling triumvirate, following the death of Julius Caesar, through his infatuation with Cleopatra. It is full of verbal glory even though its narrative is straightforward. “You shall see in him/The triple pillar of the world transformed/into a strumpet’s fool”.
Filled with many players embodying the Roman powerhouse of the time, young Octavius Caesar and the elder Lepidus, Great Pompey as well as numerous military colleagues, servants and slaves, there are nevertheless only two players who dominate the stage. Difficult to cast, it takes an inspired producer to persuade actors of such skill into his company. Rufus Norris, director of the NT, succeeded in this. Over many years there have been few productions of this work which have lit up the stage, other than the magnificent production in 1982 at the Pit with Michal Gambon and Helen Mirren. Ralph Fiennes overpowers all with his ageing, potbellied version of the aging general infatuated with a young and beautiful woman. It was difficult for those playing parts opposite him, other than to deliver the lines and let him take over. The same can be said of Sophie Okonedo, who barefooted and gowned in extraordinary beauty matched him for action and passion.
Not so the rest of the cast. Tim McMullen proved a disappointing Enobarbus, Anthony’s best friend. He reprised his previous performance as the drunken Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, losing the beauty and lyricism of the famous lines describing Cleopatra ‘The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne’. If you were waiting for this, you were disappointed. Tunji Kasim played a cool Caesar, all upright and ‘know it all’. Fisayo Akinade had his moment playing with a great actor, as Eros committing suicide rather than kill Anthony, one he will surely put in his showreel.
Having seen this play performed at the Globe previously, with Eve Best, and without the expensive production values of the NT, I felt that ‘The Play’s the Thing’ rather than the NT’s revolve is the thing. The costumes were a bit too London ‘über-modern’. Why this love of modern military costuming? It surely is a tad passé. Movement and staging were very static, possibly to enhance the swirling and passion of Ralph and Sophie. All others paled into the background. The live snakes in the final scene got their opportunity to shine.
Both star actors filled the stage with terrific performances. How I would love to have seen them in Shakespeare’s Wooden O!
Available for free on YouTube until the 14th of May.
