THEATRE CHOICE

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Cottesloe, SE1 (0171 452 3000) booking to Nov Henry Goodman is magnificent in Trevor Nunn's richly detailed production.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

Globe, SE1 (0171 401 9919) to 26 Sept

Mark Rylance conjures up memories of Elizabeth Taylor in his daring and precise portrayal of the Queen of the Nile. JEFFREY BERNARD IS UNWELL

Old Vic, SE1 (0171 494 5491) to 25 Sept

Peter O'Toole turns the life and thoughts of the late Soho journalist into an enchanting portrait of a noble wreck.

OPENING THIS WEEK

THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER

Chichester Festival (01243 781 312) opens Tues to 9 Oct Richard Griffiths stars in Moss Hart and George S Kaufman's comedy about an irascible house guest (based on the critic Alexander Woollcott).