Man and Superman, National Theatre ****

The National is following in the footsteps of the Old Vic and the Barbican with Man and Superman, using star casting to ensure a sellout run. This has certainly succeeded with Ralph Fiennes taking on the Hans Sachs of the theatre world, Jack Tanner, where tickets sold out almost as fast as Cumberbatch's Hamlet at the Barbican did. I managed to get what seemed to be the last ticket available through their entry pass scheme which enabled me to receive a £5 seat in the second row. It seemed like a dream that had come true. The performance itself was quite brilliant. It all revolves round Fiennes who creates a man for which, for three acts you are totally on his side, but for the separate Hell scene, is made to seem dull and against the happiness and fun of Tim Mcmullan's devil before debating about whether man can progress to the superman. If this play was shown at the Royal Court today, it would be about an hour and half long and still slightly drag a tad to the lack of plot line. Yet this production flys by with a running time of three and a half hours (thankfully not 4 hours like the rumours) due to Godwin's intelligent direction, Oram's sublime designs (especially Act 4) and also Shaw's wit and humour which is surprising due to the dry nature of the platforms about it which comprised of an informative but less than enjoyable interview with Godwin and a conversation about Nietzsche and Shaw  in which they concluded that they were unrelated. Tim Mcmullan almost upstaged Fiennes as a Spanish brigand and the devil in a superbly witty and funny way. Indira Varma is wonderful as a manipulative and strong woman who, throughout the play, grinds down Fiennes through deception and lies. As far as time setting is concerned, the first two acts jar, with views that felt out of step in a modern setting. Perhaps it is because that world is so far removed from my own. However, perhaps it was just getting used to the play as the last two acts worked perfectly. This is a brilliantly performed piece that captures the comedy as well as the philosophy  in Bernard Shaws troublesome play.