ON THE STAGE OF THE CLAIRE TREVOR THEATER, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE, 2017
WRITTEN BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
DIRECTED BY PAUL J. COOK
SET BY TYLER SCRIVNER
COSTUMES BY BEAU HAMILTON
SOUND DESIGN AND COMPOSITION BY BEN SCHEFF AND ANDREA ALLMOND
WRITTEN BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
DIRECTED BY PAUL J. COOK
SET BY TYLER SCRIVNER
COSTUMES BY BEAU HAMILTON
SOUND DESIGN AND COMPOSITION BY BEN SCHEFF AND ANDREA ALLMOND
Our world for Coriolanus was that of a fiercely divided, retro-futuristic, science fiction dystopia. We took the play's emphasis on public face and facade into the world of business and high fashion. We took our sonic vocabulary from video games. We voiced the Roman world with bright, poppy synthesized sounds reminiscent of catwalking music. The Volscians were grungier and dirtier, relying on electric guitar as both a musical voice and a texture. Our production also cast the role of Aufidius as a woman, Aufidia.
What you are hearing now is our introduction to the play. We reveal Menenius as something of a motivational speaker or game-show host with a theme that we would tie to both his status in the world, as well as Rome's greater well being. The final iteration we hear is a soft solo melodic line under Menenius's final plea, asking Coriolanus to spare rome.
All photos copyright Paul R. Kennedy