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Coriolanus The Shakespeare Theatre Coriolanus is
Triumphant The Shakespeare Theatre’s
production of Coriolanus is colossal. It’s
power and pathos transcends the confines of the stage.
Coriolanus is the story of a brilliant, valiant Roman warrior, Caius
Martius, a natural-born leader whose sacrifices, loyalty and love for his
country awarded him the triumphant name Caius Martius Coriolanus.
Coriolanus was a giant among his peers, and a hero to his people, but
pride prevented him from being a man of the people.
He disdained the ordinary citizens of Rome because they did not serve
Rome, but expected the Government to take care of them.
Coriolanus the man may have had feet of clay, but the this production of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus doesn’t have any fatal flaws. Andrew Long dominates the stage with his excellent portrayal of Coriolanus. His character is forceful, imposing and passionate. The audience can feel the poignancy and depth of Coriolanus’ pain each time he is unfairly charged with treason, even though he is too proud to show his pain. Sheila Allen, who plays Volumnia, mother of Coriolanus, gives a powerful performance of the proud mother proud who encouraged him to accept the opportunity to serve Rome in the Senate. She’d encouraged his valiant military career, but she’d never taught him to temper his pride with humility, and she failed to realize how unsuited he was for a political career. Ted van Griethuysen was outstanding in his portrayal of Menenius Agrippa, friend to Coriolanus and his mentor. Menenius Agippa knew how to combine the proper portions of wisdom and humor, humility and dignity, honesty and “sleight of hand” as a member of the Senate that made even the common people love him. He tried to school Coriolanus in this skill, but Coriolanus could not deny his true nature. He could not compromise the expression of his true feelings. Coriolanus was proud of his military campaigns, and approached all areas of life in the same vain: unyielding, all or nothing, unrelenting force. He could not understand, nor did he want to understand people of a different philosophy or way of life. Brave enough to route the enemy nearly single-handedly, reversing the tide of a near defeat, and selfless enough to leave the room while his exploits are lauded before the Senate, he felt that his only equals were brave soldiers like himself. Coriolanus had many supporters among his peers and within the social elite of the Senate, but the two tribunes of the working class, played by Floyd King and Eric Hoffmann, were insulted by his pride and envious of his successes. They used Coriolanus’ disdain for the common citizens to turned them against him, and Coriolanus lashed back, expressing his true feelings about them. When the tribunes of the people excited the crowd to a fever pitch the Senate exiled Coriolanus from Rome, partially to protect Coriolanus from the incensed mob, and partially to stave off civil unrest that was already brewing because of the food shortages. For further information, see the web site at http://www.shakespearedc.org/index.html |
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Humble
in receiving recognition for his brave acts in battle, he was haughty and proud
among the very people he fought to protect.
