And what would that be, gently? Come on, say it, don't be shy!

SolarSystem wrote:

And what would that be, gently? Come on, say it, don't be shy!

LOL... what do you think? Just booked a ticket. Yesterday I was in bed at around 1am, get up again at 5.30am. Hey, another hour less sleep then... no problem... all in the name of art.
 

Davina wrote:

Well...we survived it...just! The only Shakespeare my young friend had seen before was The Tempest. It is safe to say, this is nothing like The Tempest.

Having had a few hours to organise my thoughts here goes:

This is a brilliant production. The small space was used very effectively and made the experience highly visceral. The use of the ladder/s was also excellent. Costuming was perfect. Music/sound effects perfect. I loved the pared back staging, the use of the graffiti, the use of the chairs.

Mark's performance was super. The humour, the horror at Coriolanus' inept behaviour, the utter heartbreak. He is, perhaps, a bit young for the character he plays but he pulled it off. The actor playing Coriolanus' mother was wonderful, totally believable. The other characters, especially the 'plebs' and their political 'representatives' were excellent. This is not a big cast but in the small space they created a wide range of characters. I felt that the actor playing Coriolanus' wife just lacked 'something', passion, conviction? Not sure, cannot quite put my finger on it (I don't think it is because she gets to kiss him and sit on his lap!)

Now Tom's performance...this is one of those times when, watching a play, you realise rapidly that you are watching something very, very unusual and special. An astounding performance on every level: physically, emotionally. Totally in character throughout, totally believable. The cadences of voice, the facial movements, the physical movements, the range of emotion. His is not an easy character to like in many ways: he despises the 'people', he is a neo-fascist, he is however a character that people would be obsessed with (for good or bad). He is a brilliant soldier who cannot adapt to civilian (political) life.

Yes, it is a very bloody play and we were both traumatised by the end. The fact that this is one of Shakespeare's tragedies should have been sufficient warning. It wasn't! The way that this catastrophe builds throughout the play, to an almost unbearable crescendo at the end...We should have taken tissues...lots of them (Tom certainly needed them in the last act!)

I have never come away from a theatrical performance so shaken. I think I may go and see it once more on the encore evening 8th March (if I can put myself through this again). We had to pop to a pub on the way back and have a glass of wine to calm our nerves! My young friend said (after dabbing away her tears on the edge of her sweatshirt sleeves) 'What have you done to me? You said come and watch a bit of Shakespeare. I'm a mess!' As I said: The Tempest this is not.

 
I love your review, exactly mirrrors my own feelings! This was a very emotional play, towards the end I really thought Hiddleston was going to lose it for a moment, he seemed to have gotten a bit carried away by his own performance (but I guess this is just my impression, because I was so shaken myself), but it was just brilliant, it was so moving.
 

the_dancing_woman wrote:

I love your review, exactly mirrrors my own feelings! This was a very emotional play, towards the end I really thought Hiddleston was going to lose it for a moment, he seemed to have gotten a bit carried away by his own performance (but I guess this is just my impression, because I was so shaken myself), but it was just brilliant, it was so moving.

I had pretty much the same impression, it felt a bit as if he, Tom, really had to pull himself together again.
And can it be that he had a bit of a cold? In quieter scenes I had the impression as if his voice was just a teeny bit hoarse. And his eyes were a bit watery repeatedly, even in scenes that didn't really call for any tears...?

For me it was interesting to see how you can do things a little bit differently if you chose to. I think it was an interesting choice to cast a comparably young actor as Coriolanus, that's also what the director said in that interview during the intermission. I guess that's why the whole play felt a bit different to me than Ralph Fiennes' Coriolanus (I really recommend this film, btw!). Ralph's Coriolanus comes across as far more outrageous and for me it is quite difficult to identify with him. Tom's Coriolanus on the other hand does have some qualities that make me go 'okay, alright, I tend to understand why you are doing this'.
But in the end that's probably the beauty of theatre, you can take one play and do various things with it.

Last edited by SolarSystem (January 31, 2014 9:55 am)

That is so funny! I did think of Mycroft every time he tapped his stomach though! 

Thank you for the compliments on the review the_dancing_woman. It was a powerhouse of a performance. It was the 'mother' bit that really got to me!

This play will be broadcast again in NT encore at cinemas on February 13th. I think I shall go and see it again, forewarned is forearmed (military analogy seems appropriate here) and I shall be taking tissues!

I love the phrase: 'the beauty of theatre' as well SolarSystem.

I shall be taking note of footwear this time!  Maybe....

Another positive is that I think I have made a new convert to Shakespeare (if she ever gets over the trauma). Gosh it was horrific. 

My friend and I were fangirling, too, in various scenes. You can have both, culture and fangirling, definitely.

I am very good at seeming to be cerebral and cultured!    Clearly my interest in Tom's trousers is purely academic! 

I am now smirking!

Actually there were an awful lot of fangirls there last night, of all ages. You could just tell by the reaction when the director and her interviewer mentioned him being voted the sexiest man in the World.

And...my God...he is gorgeous ! This play has, frankly, haunted me rather today. Parts keep coming back in flashback e.g. The scrabbling to pick up the votes to form the hydra! And that kiss!

I am off to see it again on February 13th. Tis time I will be wearing my full metal emotional jacket and I shall be taking tissues! Glutton for punishment eh! 

SusiGo wrote:

And although Coriolanus is right a****** at times the end was quite heartbreaking. 

It was, wasn't it? Tom did a brilliant job, but then again the scene with his family gives him a great opportunity to show all kinds of emotions. I really held my bretah a couple of times.
And glad to hear the three of you had a great evening! So you all behaved for once...?