Coriolanus - Shakespeare's Globe (Review)
Review by Oli Burley
TO BE brutally honest – for no doubt Coriolanus would wish it so – The Globe’s current version of the Roman play packs more of a jab than a full-square punch.
This is not a surprise as the tragedy, focusing on power politics in the early Republic, is not regarded as one of William Shakespeare’s heavyweights.
But there are also other forces at work here. These are changing times at The Globe and new artistic director, Dominic Dromgoole, is clearly keen to test the water – Thames and Tiber alike.
One product of this creative sparring helps give Coriolanus a greater sense of inclusion. Two wooden walkways extend from the stage enabling the characters to walk out into the crowd.
Hence, the Roman citizens can roam freely among the groundlings who, by association at times, take on the guise of angry commoners or frightened foot-soldiers.
The audience also gets to witness at close quarters the obvious scorn of Jonathan Cake’s Martius, who flicks fake flesh at them having won name-fame in battle at Corioli.
Cake carries his part with some panache; his muscular presence and roaring range make him an ideal warrior-general as he leads his men to glory against the Volcii.
Yet his arrogance melts slickly away in the presence of self-assured mother, Volumnia (Margot Leicester), who twice succeeds in cooling the monster she champions.
It is a shame therefore that Volscian general Aufidius (Mo Sesay), in many ways the image of Coriolanus, fails to inspire the same awe and disdain.
His voice is one of several that falter and consequently the play’s climax rather underwhelms – poor reward for lending your ears for several hours.
Unlike the protagonist, though, there is no need to lose heart particularly as this production is the first of four of Shakespeare’s Roman plays in ‘The Edges of Rome’ season.
Tribunes Junius (John Dougall) and Sicinius (Frank McCusker) are excellent as they goad Coriolanus towards banishment, while Robin Soans makes an amiable Menenius.
For their combined influence alone Dromgoole deserves to win over his audience – even if it is on a points decision.
In repertory until August 13. For more information visit www.shakespeares-globe.org