What’s it all about?
The National Theatre describe George Bernard Shaw’s hefty tome as “a romantic comedy, an epic fairytale, a fiery philosophical debate” and you’d be hard pushed to sum up this eccentric, wonderfully bizarre, colossal work anymore perfectly. Or in fewer than 10 words at any rate.
At its most basic, Man And Superman is the tale of a woman left in the care of two very different guardians following her father’s death. Jack Tanner is a controversial revolutionary; his argumentative nature and surly rejections of romance take her fancy, as it should any good manipulative temptress.
As the story weaves its wave from upper class England to the warmer climes of Granada, the pair battle it out in the most unromantic but amusingly aggressive mating ritual you’re ever likely to see outside of a Shakespeare comedy, as the ‘shackles’ of marriage, the force of motherhood and questions of morality are hashed out in an extraordinary feat of writing and performance.
Oh yeah, there’s also a whole dream sequence act where Jack finds himself as Don Juan in hell. This act is often cut from productions – did we mention it was three and half hours long? – but Godwin has made the dark side a lot of fun. Trust us.
Who’s in it?
Ralph Fiennes returns to the stage to play the verbose Jack Tanner, and once you’ve seen him in the role. It’s impossible to imagine it having ever been written for anyone else. An incredible feat of performance, the weighty, clever and often laugh-out-loud witty scripts rolls out of him with the power of a tsunami. As Jack he is both cynical and unlikeable, witty and electric, meeting his match only in Indira Varma’s Ann, who is gloriously patronising as a holier than thou queen of manipulation, gaining an A* from finishing school in the art of lying.
The pair is supported by an excellent company who play Shaw’s entertaining mismatch of characters, from Ferdinand Kinglsey as the snivelling, love-struck Octavius to Tim McMullan who steals every scene he is in as both a starry-eyed, poetry spewing Socialist vigilante and the Devil, who in Godwin’s enlivening hands is basically a hipster who left heaven to kick start a better party elsewhere.
What should I look out for?
An incredibly beautiful car. It’s a ridiculous thing, but for some reason, someone driving a real-life car on stage is just exciting. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang eat your heart out.
Any single theatregoers can also pick up some excellent – or perhaps not – tips on the art of wooing in the final act that features my new favourite proposal scene.
In a nutshell?
Ralph Fiennes tames Shaw’s eccentric beast in Simon Godwin’s thoroughly entertaining production; a whirlwind of ideas, comedy and imagination.
What’s being said on Twitter?
@dansc Had the privilege of seeing Man and Superman at the National last night. Loved every minute of it (and there’s 240 of them!). Inspiring.
@OodAndy Man and Superman at the National Theatre has a quarry AND a start of part two recap. My geeky heart glowed 😉
Will I like it?
While some of the fast paced script is mind bogglingly wordy, Godwin’s production is a speedy triumph. Don’t let the running time or unwieldy content put you off, this is a must-see.
Man And Superman is booking until 17 May. At the time of going to print, the run was sold out but you can find out more about day tickets on the National Theatre’s website. There will also be a NT Live screening broadcast to more than 560 UK cinemas on 14 May.