Push Admin

Theater review: Pride, prejudice and politics mix in timely 'Coriolano'

Article (news)

Fred Hawson

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/01/theater1.jpg"/><figcaption>Marco Viana in the title tole of &#x27;Coriolano.&#x27; Gian Carlo Vizcarra</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA -- Watching a new unfamiliar Shakespeare play is not exactly easy to understand right away. I had no idea what &quot;Coriolanus&quot; was about before I went to watch it, nor do I know the names of any character from it. If Shakespeare is adapted in Filipino, it may either be easier or harder depending on how the adaptation was done. If it is done by the award-winning Guelan Varela-Luarca, it should be good (and in the case of &quot;Coriolano,&quot; it was). Cayo Marcio was a proud Patrician soldier who did not shy from expressing his contempt against the Plebians who worked under him. After he successfully led a campaign against the Volscian city of Corioli (under the leadership of Gen. Tulo Aufidio), Marcio was given the honorary title of Coriolano. When he was nominated by the Senate to become consul, Marcio faced stiff opposition from the two Plebian tribunes, Sicinio Veluto and Junio Bruto, who rallied the common people against the Coriolano.As the play went on, there were so many characters with names which were not exactly easy to hear, to learn or to remember. There were also actors in the ensemble who were playing multiple roles, further adding to the confusion. It took some time for me to figure out that Cayo Marcio was the lead character&#x27;s name. The play&#x27;s title &quot;Coriolano&quot; was just an honorific Cayo Marcio earned after he won the battle against the Volscians (an Italic tribe I also never heard before, so it took some time for me to figure this out as well). Up to the very end, I never figured out why the chaste lady Valeria was there at all. <div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/01/theater2.jpg"/><figcaption>The Tribunes rally the crowd against Coriolano. Gian Carlo Vizcarra</figcaption></figure></div>However, despite the difficulty of the first scenes, the flow of the play was engaging enough for you to eventually get the drift of where the story was going by the time the Tribunes were convincing the people to rise against the arrogant abuse of Coriolano. Actually, the rise in action was remarkable from this point on, until it reaches a climax when Coriolano was sentenced for exile. It actually felt like a good conclusion right there after an hour and a half, but then you realize it was just the end of Act 1.Act 2 presented a uniquely ironic situation about Coriolano and his mortal enemy Tulo Aufidio. This act was easier to get into than it was at the beginning of Act 1, but there were still a lot of talky scenes which can feel too long and meandering to sit through. It would take approximately another hour and 15 minutes or so before the final curtain. Despite the efforts of the director Carlos Siguion-Reyna and cast to keep the play interesting, I felt that the play&#x27;s epic length was the major impediment in fully enjoying this play. You should not watch this when tired or sleepy.Marco Viana owned the title role of Coriolano with his magnetic stage presence. Coriolano is a puzzling character with his arrogant elitist outbursts contrasting starkly with his seeming humility when being praised for his exploits. <div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/01/theater3.jpg"/><figcaption>Marco Viana, JV Ibesate and Doray Dayao. Gian Carlo Vizcarra</figcaption></figure></div>Jonathan Tadioan was a calming presence as Menenio Agrippa, as the voice of reason within the Senate. Frances Makil-Ignacio camped it up with her satin pants in her showy role as Volumnia, the Coriolano&#x27;s influential mother. (Sherry Lara alternates as Volumnia.) JV Ibesate and Doray Dayao were effectively conniving as the Sicinio Veluto and Junio Bruto respectively. Brian Sy relished his intimate &quot;bromance&quot; scenes in Act 2 as Tulo Aufidio.Ohm David built &quot;stone&quot; steps to occupy the entire breadth of the stage with huge &quot;stone&quot; pillars positioned all around to frame the action within. The costumes of Bonsai Cielo were modern renditions of the tunic and the toga, with Volumnia&#x27;s satin pants the most memorable anachronistic item up there. Dennis Marasigan&#x27;s use of red lights heightened the drama of the key scenes. Sy and Remus Villanueva were responsible for the dance-like fight choreography. You will dig that climactic final sword fight with apparently real metal blades!<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/03/01/theater4.jpg"/><figcaption>The cast and creative time led by director Carlos Siguion-Reyna at curtain call on opening night. Gian Carlo Vizcarra</figcaption></figure></div>The political implications of this tragic Shakespearean play to the Philippine situation will certainly not be lost on the audience. The whole Act 1 basically predicted the whole scenario of our EDSA Revolution, predating the dictator&#x27;s caustic pride, snap election, popular uprising and ignominous exile by centuries. It is up to the audience&#x27;s appreciation how the whole &quot;sleeping with the enemy&quot; scenario of Act 2 applies to our present situation. The political metaphors we pick up from this play can be chilling. This mentally stimulating exercise is the best reason to go watch this play. &quot;Coriolano&quot; runs at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino of the Cultural Center of the Philippines until March 17, with 8 p.m. shows on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. matinees on Saturdays and Sundays.This review was originally published in the author&#x27;s blog, &quot;<a href="https://3xhcch.blogspot.com/2019/02/review-of-tps-coriolano-perplexing.html?fbclid=IwAR0KQAUNKkk7iOoWOYRVlhPmEMoZoaq4fXpQAnzyJ15C2z18gMGjqLugWqM">Fred Said</a>.&quot;

The political implications of the tragic Shakespearean play "Coriolano" to the Philippine situation will certainly not be lost on the audience.

The political implications of the tragic Shakespearean play "Coriolano" to the Philippine situation will certainly not be lost on the audience.