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Coriolanus
Mar. 25th, 2007 12:10 amJust back from Stratford having seen the RSC do Coriolanus.
So very good. I mean, it's an awkward play and at least one of the main characters, Aufidius, makes no sense whatsoever. But so very good. I mean I'm still not sure whether I want to strangle Coriolanus or not, but I definitely feel sorry for him, and the actor did a bang up job of both halves of that problem. Even if his diction could be clearer.
But Volumina was wow! I lack the words. She was just perfection.
I also want to hug the director. Because, given this is Shakespeare and it's all about the words, he made the silences tell the story. For instance, the scene where Volumina wins Coriolanus over, there's a huge gap between the last plea she makes and when he finally gives in, and she goes over to him and touches him and there's this look. Because she knows what she's asking of him and he knows what he'll have to sacrifice to do it, but he can't not and it's all told in silence.
And then when Volumina returns to Roma and there's the triumphal march and everyone else is cheering. Then they stop for her to say something and she doesn't. Because she knows what she's done.
The other thing I really like is what they did with the ending, because Coriolanus being himself once again caused all the problems. That was one of those points where I wanted to hug him and shake him all at once. As I said, bang up job by the actors and director. Even if it was a bit of a mess because Aufidius makes no sense. None.
So very good. I mean, it's an awkward play and at least one of the main characters, Aufidius, makes no sense whatsoever. But so very good. I mean I'm still not sure whether I want to strangle Coriolanus or not, but I definitely feel sorry for him, and the actor did a bang up job of both halves of that problem. Even if his diction could be clearer.
But Volumina was wow! I lack the words. She was just perfection.
I also want to hug the director. Because, given this is Shakespeare and it's all about the words, he made the silences tell the story. For instance, the scene where Volumina wins Coriolanus over, there's a huge gap between the last plea she makes and when he finally gives in, and she goes over to him and touches him and there's this look. Because she knows what she's asking of him and he knows what he'll have to sacrifice to do it, but he can't not and it's all told in silence.
And then when Volumina returns to Roma and there's the triumphal march and everyone else is cheering. Then they stop for her to say something and she doesn't. Because she knows what she's done.
The other thing I really like is what they did with the ending, because Coriolanus being himself once again caused all the problems. That was one of those points where I wanted to hug him and shake him all at once. As I said, bang up job by the actors and director. Even if it was a bit of a mess because Aufidius makes no sense. None.
