Coriolanus (Donmar) Lay-persons review

I ‘studied’ this play for A -Level English but that was over 35 yrs ago,  so when it was announced that this would be Tom’s return to the Shakespearean stage, I was a little nonplussed. I didn’t remember anything in detail, about the play other than the obnoxious soldier, pushy ambitious mother and it ‘didn’t end well’. Also that  I, like many, had visualized Coriolanus as an older man.

I watched the Fiennes version in the months before the performance and also re-read the text. My god, it’s easier to understand Shakespeare with those extra years under my belt. I saw it with my husband and in the end, my Shakespeare adoring niece who lives in London. The intention was to take my 14yr  daughter, but she can be emotional at violence, gore etc so she bailed & was treated to a tour of London with a friend who knows  all the best places and dim sum in China town.

( Read more... )