Stratford
It's been years since I'd been to see anything at Stratford. When I was in school (both high and university), I went quite regularly because my highschool arranged for a yearly trip out there, and then at Laurier, well its only a hop skip and a jump from Waterloo to Stratford. While my boyfriend at the time was definitely not what you'd call a big reader, he did really enjoy Shakespeare, and so was quite willing to go and see whatever play struck my fancy or happened to correspond to one of the plays I was studying at the time.
So, it was really great to return there on Sunday for a vewing of Coriolanus. Its one of Shakespeare's lesser known plays (in fact, I think everyone's pretty much said 'never heard of that one') and I read it once years ago after I read that it was considered Shakespeare's most political play, even more so than Julius Ceasar or Henry V. Given that I've read both of those and Henry V is one of my very favourites, I decided I had to read it. The title character (called so because he pretty much single handedly captured the town of Coriole) Caius Martius is, by far, the most single minded and best soldier in all of the Shakespearean canon, and it is when he is forced to be a politician that things go... wrong.
It's a violent and bloody romp, as are most of Shakespeare's tragedies of course, but the main reason I wanted to see this is that Colm Feore, Canadian and Shakespearean actor extrordinaire, was back at Stratford and playing the title roll. I love Colm Feore, I've seen him in other plays (last one being Midsummer Night's Dream where he played a spectacular Oberon) and he's always been fabulous. I met him once and he is one of those people who just exudes so much charisma that the room almost feels a little smaller when he walks in. And he was also extremely nice. So yes, he did not disappoint, the play was wonderful overall, Feore played Coriolanus as someone just bursting with barely controlled violence (like the world's oldest ADDH sufferer), and the actress playing his mother, who is quite possibly the 'best' hockey mom ever, was equally good, her character is quite the piece of work.
So yes, very enjoyable, and my friend who went with me also enjoyed it, despite not being overly familiar with the works of the Bard, he still found it pretty easy to follow along. I love sharing Shakespeare with people, it makes me terribly happy :)
So, it was really great to return there on Sunday for a vewing of Coriolanus. Its one of Shakespeare's lesser known plays (in fact, I think everyone's pretty much said 'never heard of that one') and I read it once years ago after I read that it was considered Shakespeare's most political play, even more so than Julius Ceasar or Henry V. Given that I've read both of those and Henry V is one of my very favourites, I decided I had to read it. The title character (called so because he pretty much single handedly captured the town of Coriole) Caius Martius is, by far, the most single minded and best soldier in all of the Shakespearean canon, and it is when he is forced to be a politician that things go... wrong.
It's a violent and bloody romp, as are most of Shakespeare's tragedies of course, but the main reason I wanted to see this is that Colm Feore, Canadian and Shakespearean actor extrordinaire, was back at Stratford and playing the title roll. I love Colm Feore, I've seen him in other plays (last one being Midsummer Night's Dream where he played a spectacular Oberon) and he's always been fabulous. I met him once and he is one of those people who just exudes so much charisma that the room almost feels a little smaller when he walks in. And he was also extremely nice. So yes, he did not disappoint, the play was wonderful overall, Feore played Coriolanus as someone just bursting with barely controlled violence (like the world's oldest ADDH sufferer), and the actress playing his mother, who is quite possibly the 'best' hockey mom ever, was equally good, her character is quite the piece of work.
So yes, very enjoyable, and my friend who went with me also enjoyed it, despite not being overly familiar with the works of the Bard, he still found it pretty easy to follow along. I love sharing Shakespeare with people, it makes me terribly happy :)