'Anthony & Cleopatra' at the National Theatre

Last week we went to see the new production of 'Anthony & Cleopatra' at the National Theatre. That's one of my favourite Shakespeare plays and it was on the grand Olivier stage so there was lots of space to fill.

I really liked the production a few years ago at the Globe, particularly since it was in period costume, and one of my abiding memories is that Cleopatra spoke her final lines as a mild and defeated woman, not as a mighty queen. Getting those lines right is a benchmark for me, so how would this new production fare?

We all know who Anthony and Cleopatra were don't we? Anthony was a Roman general and politician who was one of the triumvirate who ruled the Roman empire after Julius Caesar's death. Cleopatra was the queen of Egypt. often said to be the last in the Greek Ptolemaic line to rule (although technically that was her son), lover of Julius Caesar and then of Mark Anthony. Both died in the war between the triumvirate for supremacy that resulted in Octavius taking power and becoming the first Roman Caesar.

It's a play about power and intrigue, about love and jealousy, about the fate of nations being decided by leaders and about loyalty. It's about a lot of things - there's a lot going on in this play and is a testament to the creativity and power of Shakespeare. The text is there so, to do it justice, you need a cast of actors and creatives that can bring the work to life. I avoided all reviews and production photos so I could enjoy it with fresh eyes and ears. How does this production fare?

The play opened with Octavius delivering a eulogy to Cleopatra while she lay dead at his feet and he was surrounded by soldiers in modern combat uniform. My heart sank. O, it's a modern dress version is it? Why? Why try to modernise things? what's wrong with a toga or two? Cleopatra is lying on the main stage when the turntable span around, removing the dusty monument and soldiers and revealed a sumptuous palace scene and Cleopatra was miraculously lying beside a pool. Anthony walks out in a Hawaiian shirt and the most ridiculous and flariest linen trousers since the guitarist from Mud in the early '70s. Aha, I thought, this is looking interesting.

Cleopatra's palace in Alexandria looks more like a five star hotel for rich people with sun loungers beside the pool and servants to cater for your every whim. That's how we're introduced to the lovers and the story is off and running. Their idyll doesn't last for long, of course, as Anthony is summoned back to Rome, he marries and we see a great scene with the jealous Cleopatra getting a description of her rival. Ah, yes, jealousy.

I quite liked the staging of the play and I don't think I've seen the giant turntable under the Olivier stage used so frequently to change set and tone of a play as in this one. All the quick changes could've been annoying but I liked it. I also forgave the use of modern costumes because the clothes were quite interesting in themselves, although I did find the army fatigues a bit distracting later in the play during the battle scenes. I think some of that was unnecessary and more down to the director's vision rather than the text.

The acting was, on the whole, excellent and lived up to expectations for such a powerful play. Ralph Fiennes was Anthony and Sophie Okonedo was a suitably imperious and fiery Cleopatra. They worked well together as lovers and rulers, commanding their court at the same time as being playful and believable. I also liked Gloria Obianyo and Georgia Landers as Chairman and Iras, Cleopatra's loyal handmaidens - I could easily hear Chairman saying 'keep your hands off my queen, matey' to Caesar. Both turned in excellent performances, I thought. I was less taken with Tunji Kasim as Octavius who didn't really convince me he was soon to be the most powerful man in the world.

I grew to love the staging and rotating set (even though it didn't look terribly Egyptian) and the lighting was excellent, almost like an Egyptian beach in some of the palace scenes. Well done to director Simon Godwin, set designer Hildegard Bechtler, costume by Evie Gurney and lighting by Tim Lutkin. Well done all.

And the final speech. In my head I hear Cleopatra laying down a challenge to the gods for daring to take her lover from her, thunder crashing and lightning flashing as she prepares to join her lover:

Give me my robe. Put on my crown.

I have immortal longings in me...

I am fire and air,

My other elements I give to a baser life.

O yes, Sophie was suitably imperious as Cleopatra prepares to join her lover. I didn't hear thunder crashing but thank you! I now have a new benchmark for that speech.

Go and see this play - I'm tempted to go again. Maybe there'll be thunder?