Supplied - Lucas BoutilierCoriolanus
Freewill Shakespeare Festival
June 23 to July 15, 2015
Student ticket price: 20$
Waiting for the curtain in the muggy seats of the Hawrelak Park amphitheatre, I must admit that my attention was more with warding off the clouds of mosquitoes than on the stage in front of me. The moment the first of many angry mobs arrived onstage; however, I was enthralled. Two hours later, as the cast took their final bows, the tumultuous applause indicated that the entire Freewill Shakespeare Company had triumphed with their production of Coriolanus.
Shakespeare’s script about a fiercely patriotic Roman general and his quest for revenge is oddly relevant, though it was written sometime around 1602. All the political backstabbing and family rivalries of your favorite TV drama is vaulted from the Roman era forward into a modern setting of equal parts suit-clad bureaucrats and mud-spattered soldiers. Coriolanus, the unwilling “next big thing” in politics, fights to maintain his honour and stay alive in the tumult of Roman politics.
First and foremost, the Freewill Players do an excellent job of catering their production to those who might not usually attend live Shakespeare performances. Varying costumes provided stark visual contrast between soldiers, politicians, and the mob; distinctions that served not only the inexperienced viewer, but also drives home the social separations between these groups. Generous pauses are given in moments of humor, and the cast almost seems to draw more attention to themselves at important points in the story. In short, you can sit back and enjoy the play rather than worrying about what you might miss.
Production and stages are minimalistic, however this tends to draw more attention to the performances of the cast, which is exactly what it should do. Freewill Veteran John Ullyatt brings all the coldness, courage, and tragic heroism of Coriolanus to life in the starring role, but is outshone on occasion by his co-stars. Belinda Cornish is captivating as Volumnia, exuding the dominance of the controlling maternal figure whenever she is onstage. Also a highlight is Farren Timoteo as the tribune Sicinius, equal parts serpentine politician, snide humorist, and leader of the mob. From lead characters to members of the chorus, all members of the cast portray their parts beautifully.
Though it is certainly an excellent example of community theatre, the multipurpose nature of the set omes to the fore several times throughout the play. Since both Coriolanus and As You Like It are set on he same stage on alternating nights, the set must remain understandingly simplistic.
Understandably, set changes can be slightly blurred, with the audience sometimes unclear when they are on one battlefield or another. Similarly, the small cast means that actors often play several parts, and the use of a hat or pair of sunglasses to indicate character change can get tired across a two-hour play. Lastly, the music can occasionally be grating, not matching the action onstage. All these quips are minimal, however, when set beside such excellent performances.
There aren’t many better ways to spend a summer evening than with the Freewill Players in Hawrelak Park. So, as they say on their website, get thee to a performance!
