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Post by johnjohotspur on Oct 14, 2024 18:00:05 GMT
More style than substance in this underwhelming production. Not the first time I've seen the National throw all its considerable resources at a show but fail to get the basics right. David Oyelowo plays Coriolanus as a decent soldier who gets a bit peeved at being asked to play the politician. That's about it. There is little sign of Coriolanus' arrogance or contempt for the masses, and far too little vocal variety. Coupled with some pretty run-of-the-mill acting from some others, this leaves a hole where the tragedy should be. The key relationships with Aufidius and Volumnia are under-developed, leaving Menenius and the tribunes to dominate. Meanwhile we had a parade of what are fast becoming modern-dress-Shakespeare cliches - scenes played as press conferences, live video projections, yet another cuboid set, plus an annoying soundtrack that the poor performers had to fight against. The money wasted on these peripherals would have been better spent on more heavyweight actors (ideally better-known actors too - the auditorium was half-empty on Thursday night) and hiring some extras. You cannot expect five or six placard-waving actors to fill a space the size of the Olivier. |
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Post by johnjohotspur on Oct 14, 2024 18:05:23 GMT
Saw this a few weeks back- it was enthralling, great cast, rapturous reception at the end. Certainly a “ heavy weight” performance from David Oyelowo - very impressive in a difficult part. remember him as Henry VI years ago - nice to see the wheel come full circle. Another one that seems to generate diversity of opinion - all good :-)
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Post by orientfan on Oct 15, 2024 9:18:42 GMT
My benchmark is the Charles Dance/RSC production from 1989. On the night we were there, almost the entire Cabinet were in the front rows.
This is actually one of my favourite Shakespeare plays, and Oyelowo brings a lot to the second half of this production. But the set was probably the winner.
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Post by Jan on Oct 16, 2024 6:36:48 GMT
Strangely I partly agree with almost all of the reviews of this, positive and negative, because it was very very uneven. For every very good scene there was one where a character was declaiming and the rest of the actors were just standing motionless in a semi-circle listening. Overall it was a bit plodding and one paced. I think the issue is that Lyndsey Turner is just a very inexperienced Shakespeare director - as far as I can see she's only directed one Shakespeare play before which was Hamlet as a star vehicle for Benedict Cumberbatch. Given that taking on this difficult play in this difficult theatre was ambitious. With the same cast I think their regular Shakespeare director Simon Godwin would have done better.
I liked David Oyelowo as Henry VI but I think this part was less suitable for him - he was a bit too naturalistic and not extreme enough and also didn't engage with the audience in any way at all - for example when I saw McKellen play the part in this theatre he left us in no doubt that his contempt for the common people extended to the entire audience. I though the best performance by far - very detailed - was Jordan Metcalfe as Junius Brutus.
3*
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Post by youngoffender on Oct 16, 2024 8:17:14 GMT
It's a shame to see this is now being papered. On the face of it this had all the makings of a National hit (Shakespeare, name lead, a good number of 4* reviews), but there's clearly some negative energy around this show that is making people stay away.
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Post by Jan on Oct 16, 2024 11:39:51 GMT
It's a shame to see this is now being papered. On the face of it this had all the makings of a National hit (Shakespeare, name lead, a good number of 4* reviews), but there's clearly some negative energy around this show that is making people stay away. It’s never been a popular play and the only way it’s ever filled a large theatre is with a sensational leading actor and production (Alan Howard was a notable RSC one). Small-scale productions have done better. |
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Post by Dave B on Oct 23, 2024 12:52:08 GMT
Saw this last night, our usual front row seats so intensely close to the action.
Mainly fall in with the mixed reactions, it felt more style than substance. I like David Oyelowo a lot and thought he was really good at the almost petulance, his way or the highway and stubbornness. He carries the character of Coriolanus with an intensity, almost a burning sense of purpose and hard to take my eyes off him... but I did feel Coriolanus was a little one note, not much else to bring to the character. I've not seen it before so don't know if this was play or production. Unfortunately it meant that I didn't see much in the relationship with his mother that would be so key later on.
Peter Forbes' Menenius was excellent, really grounds the first half and then excels in the second act when begged to then beg Coriolanus himself. The rest of the cast were all good with many get a moment to shine and do really well which I liked
Set design is pretty excellent, really impressed by that and it combines with light and sound to be effective throughout. Excellent fight/action scenes too.
3 stars good. Quite happy with the value for money of my ticket.
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Post by kallyloo on Nov 2, 2024 9:54:58 GMT
I absolutely loved this, for all the reasons previously mentioned.
I saw it on the 30th, and on the 31st had the privilege of a Q&A with David Oyelowo and the producer.
Turns out this play has been in his life for 25 years and he’s been planning to perform it for a decade.
So many amazing insights, including the fact that Tom Holland visited the rehearsal and had a discussion with the cast about performing in a non traditional Shakespeare production.
Mr Oyelowo was incredibly kind and I got to speak with him afterwards for a minute, and he was very happy to sign things and chat.
Amazingly generous with his time as he’d played 2 performances the day before and it’s such a physically demanding play.
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Post by happysooz2 on Nov 2, 2024 10:59:38 GMT
My first Coriolanus. I studied it at college so am familiar with the text. It was cut so heavily I struggled to follow, especially towards the end. It’s almost wholly style over substance, but it’s fabulous to look at. One for the completists.
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Post by kallyloo on Nov 2, 2024 11:24:25 GMT
My first Coriolanus. I studied it at college so am familiar with the text. It was cut so heavily I struggled to follow, especially towards the end. It’s almost wholly style over substance, but it’s fabulous to look at. One for the completists. Your point is very valid. How much do you cut to make the text and story relate to a current audience? They told us, it’s actually one of the least cut productions, only 17% was cut, and that was mainly intensely Elizabethan references. They cut it solely on the basis of whether they thought the audience would understand an entrenched Shakespearean joke or reference. They compared to previous productions, and the average was to cut 25% for the audience. I’m going to buy the script, I think, as it’s set a fire inside me to understand the nuances of this play. |
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Post by thistimetomorrow on Nov 6, 2024 9:17:03 GMT
Also my first Coriolanus. My friend and I enjoyed this a lot. We loved the staging and thought David was great. A shame the theatre was quite empty.
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Post by lynette on Nov 6, 2024 14:11:23 GMT
Also my first Coriolanus. My friend and I enjoyed this a lot. We loved the staging and thought David was great. A shame the theatre was quite empty. Why was this do you think? Cost of tickets, lack of appeal? Tbh I think the NT should leave Shakespeare’s lesser known to the RSC 🤪 |
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Post by sherbetlemon on Nov 10, 2024 22:30:08 GMT
Saw the final performance last night and found it mostly engrossing. I found the first half stronger than the second, particularly the scenes with Coriolanus striving for consul and the butting of heads with the tribunes and the people.
Thought David Oyelowo's work very good - both commanding and passionate. Shout out to Peter Forbes' Menenius as well. The true star though is Es Devlin's magical stage design, well-worthy of the Olivier.
Overall, a 3.5 star production for me.
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