Coriolanus

After having seen and LOVED this production from Canadian Stratford, it was rather shocking and absurd to come to IMDb and see it have a rating of only 3.5 stars out of 10 (based on 115 votes at the time of this writing, late March 2021). That is of course ridiculous. These ratings are not made by Shakespeare appreciators. I was in awe of this production, which very successfully aims to make this hard-to-penetrate play understandable by emphasizing precisely what the play is all about: politics.

Our main character, Coriolanus, is a warrior who detests all non-warriors, and has only scorn for all values that we would consider civilized. The play takes play at a time when the people of Rome are in revolt against their elites, demanding food and democratic power. Coriolanus, and the people around him (his mother, Menenius, Cominius, etc.), are part of the elite, and the play effectively chronicles the class struggle between the people and the elite. The people grow more and more powerful, eventually ousting Coriolanus, who sees no other recourse but to join with the Volscians, the enemies of Rome, and as one of their commanders, attempt to conquer Rome. But in the meantime, Coriolanus' own mother and the rest of the Roman elite have evovled to be more in line with the people, and they beg him not to destroy Rome. Surprisingly, he is moved by his mother's plea, and resolves instead to make a peace treaty between Rome and the Volscians. The leader of the latter, Aufidius, is not amused, and kills Coriolanus as a traitor at the end.

This production is modern, to be sure - you won't see Roman garbs here. But no one puts this play on in Roman attire anymore. The play is so political that it BEGS to be some form of a reflection of our own current-day politics. As this opened, I was instantly engaged and caught up in it, quite amazed and impressed with the cutting-edge stagecraft on display here (a previous commenter, Fred_Walker, claims that the props are "non-existent" - he must not have seen the same play I did, or not understand anything about theater. All sorts of special effects were used to incredible and highly cinematic effect). Many filmed stage plays look too obviously low-budget, but this production *really* did not! It had so many great effects and such protracted sequences (like several minutes of driving a car from Rome to Antium!) that a low-budget impression was the farthest thing from my mind! Quite the contrary, this great production was much more of a "spared no expense" experience!

My rule about rating is that I'm not generous with 10-star awardings, partly because the scale is meant to rate movies and not plays. There are only one or two truly exceptional plays that I have ever rated a 10. This production is not one of them - but let me say that it almost was! This is the best CORIOLANUS I have seen; better than the RSC production from the year before; better than the 2014 Tom Hiddleston version and better than the 2012 Ralph Fiennes movie. This Stratford Festival version helped me more than any of those to understand the structure, content and point of this play, and I was spellbound by the experience. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

9 stars out of 10.

Another of those terrible remakes in an attempt to rewrite history. Save yourself and avoid this at all costs.

'Coriolanus' is not an easy play to perform or stage, with Coriolanus not being easy to identify with, and dramatically is not as concise or as consistently gripping as other Shakespeare plays. One of Shakespeare's most compelling and more complex titular characters is one of the main interest points, regardless of whether he is likeable or not (more the latter), as well as it emphasising a class divide that wouldn't be too out of date today.

This Stratford production of 'Coriolanus' is so much better than the current rating suggests, and the negative reviewers judging from their senseless criticisms clearly wrote reviews for the wrong title. It's not perfect, and there is a preference for the National Theatre Live and Royal Shakespeare Company productions, but there is a lot that is worthy of admiration. Even if it is on the overblown side visually at times, it's mostly very well acted (with one exception) and overcomes the play's hurdles quite well. The non-traditional setting also works better than expected and there is plenty of appeal for those familiar with the play and is accessible for first time viewers too.

Am going to start with the things that didn't quite come over as well as the rest. For my tastes, Lucy Peacock was too shrill as Volumnia, especially in the declamatory moments which she goes at too hard.

While the spectacle is very atmospheric, ambitious and eye catching with clever use of technology, it does at times feel overblown and drama swamping, also not always necessary in the more intimate moments. Some of the filming tries to do a little too much.

However, the good things outweigh the not so good things and the good things are actually brilliant. Andre Sills gives an intensely fierce and powerful portrayal in the demanding title role, one that he brings many layers to. One may argue that Coriolanus isn't likeable here, but it is my feeling that Coriolanus is not a likeable character in the first place and is difficult to make so. After seeing him in more comedic Shakespeare roles, it was great to see Tom McCamus in a more serious one and do it in such a suave, sincere and smooth way. Stephen Ouimette and Tom Rooney are unsettlingly manipulative. The character interaction in the production is quite masterful, saw some relationships in a different light watching this production even.

Staging may be non-traditional, but it is also very tasteful and powerful in its intensity. There are some inventive touches without being gimmicky or trying to be too clever, the way the characters are directed is complex and insightful rather than cliched or tired and any modernisations don't jar. 'Coriolanus' is a still politically relevant play and the class divide hasn't dated either, meaning it lends itself better than most Shakespeare plays (with some such as 'As You Like It' having a specific setting) to non-traditional productions. The political elements are not laid on too thick and the class struggle and its tensions are particularly effectively depicted.

Liked the use of sound and music as well, very atmospheric. It is a striking production visually, with the settings and costumes matching the play's tone perfectly. Really don't understand the "non-existent props" complaint in a production full of use of ambitious technical work that is very eye catching with well paced transitions. Visually, this 'Coriolanus' is one of the most visually ambitious filmed Stratford Shakespeare productions, matched only by 'The Tempest' a couple of years back.

Overall, very, very good. 8/10.

This is NOT a movie, but a play on a stage that was filmed. the costumes are literally 21 century street clothes and the props non existent. badly cast and amateur acting to top it all off. this suuuucked.