Coriolanus Review

Does theater have to be live?

Let's talk about that.

I had the unique experience of watching a recording of the Donmar Warehouse production of Coriolanus, directed by Josie Rourke. The original run of the show took place at the Donmar Warehouse in west London, a venue that holds only 251 seats (not including the 20 standing room seats) and is a not-for-profit theater that opened in 1977. Due to the small size of the venue, the stage was also very small, fitting only about seven actors on stage at one time. Bordering the rectangular stage was a drain pipe and at the back of the stage stood a cement wall with handles prodding out for climbing. The drain pipe was used to quickly dispose of the water that showered from above and the dirt and blood that was splayed out on the stage. Throughout the play, the only props used were paint (for outlining the borders of a house on the floor for example), eight chairs, brooms, swords, and a ladder. The minimalistic set was very industrial and modern, bringing a twist to the Shakespearean classic set in Rome. There were not any major set changes because the wall remained stationary and the paint conveyed a location change, if needed, allowing the stage lights to remain on throughout the acts until intermission. The music relied heavily on drums and violins which accented dramatic monologues or scenes of battle. Rourke utilized the lighting impeccably, especially in a particularly gruesome scene after a battle. It emphasized the body makeup and created vibrant colors in contrast to the gray wall which was visually stunning. In addition to the makeup, set, and music, the costumes did a wonderful job of bringing a modern twist to such a classic play. The women were dressed beautifully in tunics, with flats that looked like they were bought at a department store which added to the look instead of distracted it. The men were mostly dressed in leather for their military uniform while the politicians were dressed in tunics as well.

Since I didn't have a couple hundred dollars to fly to London and see the show, I watched it on screen at a local theater. I still got the plushy theater seats and the snobby Shakespeare readers who brought their copies of Coriolanus to the show, I just didn't get the actors physically in the same room. I thought it would change the experience and makes the play less authentic, but it was just as impactful through the screen as I imagine it would've been in the Warehouse. Being one of the snobby Shakespeare readers that I am, I went into the play already knowing its story, its history and its message. The production heavily relied on an informed audience because it didn't explicitly give the play a setting or time period. Of course, being Shakespeare, the dialogue was difficult to grasp at first, but became easier to digest as the play went on. The play starred Tom Hiddleston (Coriolanus) and Mark Gatiss (Menenius) in addition to lesser known theater actors, all of whom were spectacular. Their performances absorbed the audience and made the play both gripping and tragic. Hiddleston's portrayal of Coriolanus was the perfect balance of arrogance yet humility. His character embodies ancient classical literature protagonists and strays from Shakespeare's more reflective heroes such as Macbeth and Hamlet. While the play is a tragedy, it contains quite a bit of humorous moments throughout to break up the dramatic and heavy scenes. As I mentioned earlier, there were some graphic moments in the play that were shocking but appropriate. I'm sad to say I was the youngest person in attendance since the main demographic seemed to be between 35-60, but then again, Shakespeare is an acquired taste.

After the final moment of the play, the room was silent. The entire audience paused for a moment to swallow the conclusion and then applause erupted even though there were no actors there to congratulate. Now, my love for Tom Hiddleston (and Shakespeare) has perhaps made me bias, but I really can't say anything bad about this production. It was absolutely amazing, and I from the moment I left, I've been trying to find a way to watch it all over again. While this is one of Shakespeare's less favored plays, it quickly became one of my favorites after seeing this play. The most amazing part about this story is it's relevance to and commentary on today's politics, but I suppose that is the genius of Shakespeare. Watching it was a sensory overload because there was so much going on all at once in addition to focusing on understanding the dialogue. If the impact of the play was that sensational through a screen, what must it have been like to have seen it live? Although to be honest, it's probably safer for both Tom Hiddleston and I not to be in the same room, I don't think I would enjoy prison.