Coriolanus

We went to see Coriolanus at Shakespeare on the Common last night.

This year, before the play each night, they have a band from the NEC playing on stage. Last night, they had Michael Prentky’s band Bone Town.

They were playing some great jazz with a drum, bass, and two trombones. They closed with a really rocking version of Frank Zappa’s Muffin Man.

During the break before the main event, we ran into our old friends Bill and Susan Poduska. It was really great to see them, and it was a beautiful night for schmoozing on the Common.

Coriolanus is a really exciting play, with lots of fights and excitement. It’s also a timely play with its concerns about privilege, rank, and rights. But mostly it’s about a great hero destroyed by his own hubris. Nick Carrière was really good in the title role.

Several of our favorite actors were also in it. Karen MacDonald was really great as Volumnia. That part has some great speeches, and she really ripped up the stage. Remo Airaldi was also good as Junius Brutus. We also saw Tommy Derrah in the audience.

The weather really cooperated. It was one of the nicest nights of the summer. A great night for sitting under the stars and watching a great play.