Coriolanus

Coriolanus is playing at the Delecorte Theatre located in Central Park, New York City. It runs two hours and twenty minutes with one intermission. The play closes on August 11, 2019.

This play is one of the last two tragedies written by Shakespeare. It was thought to be written between between 1605 and 1608.

There are riots in Rome after stories of grain being withheld from the ordinary people. Caius Maritus (Johnathan Cake) a Roman general says they don’t deserve it. Menenius Agrippa (Teagle F. Bougere) tries to calm them down.

Caius leaves to fight Volscian who is at war with Rome. Tullas Aufidius (Louis Cancelmi) is the man he is fights with, Caius wins.

When he comes home Cominus (Tom Nelis) tells him as a reward he will now be called Caius Martius Coriolanus. His mother Voluminia (Kate Burton) wants him to run for Consul. He’s reluctant.

Meanwhile Sicnus Veletus (Jonathan Hadary) and Junius Brutus (Enid Grahan) rile up the people against Caius. He is banished from Rome.

Caius strikes up a friendship with Tullus. He is going to help him destroy Rome. Voluminia, his wife Virgilia (Nneka Gkafor) and his son Young Martius (Emeka Guindo) come to him to try to convince him no to do it.

Things do no turn out good for him.

The first act it overwhelming and confusing. There are too many characters and too much going on. If you wait for the second act you won’t be disappointed. It’s more interesting.

Beowulf Boritt is the scenic designer. I must say the set was different. It looked more like a junk yard. There was a ribbed metal wall which opened in the center. Even when it opened we didn’t see far inside. Everything happened outside of it. There are old cars and junk all around.

Review by Rozanna Radakovich