Shakespeare on the Common to Perform Coriolanus

The 17th season of Shakespeare on the Common, featuring the free performance of Coriolanus on the Boston Common, launches July 25 and runs through Aug. 12.

• Times: Tuesday-Saturday at 8:00 pm and Sunday’s at 7:00 pm
• Tickets: Free and open to the public. For reserved lawn seats visit: http://www.commshakes.org
• LGBT Night: Thursday, July 26, 2012

Coriolanus Synopsis:

Rome is in a mutinous mood. Its citizens are protesting about their rulers’ incompetence and the shortage of food. Against this turbulent backdrop, emerges Coriolanus, an arrogant and fiery young general, unparalleled on the battlefield. After a stunning victory against neighboring Volscian forces, Rome’s people enthusiastically thrust him into the political arena only to find that the same qualities emboldening him on the battlefield make him entirely ill suited to govern.

Displaying his contempt for Rome’s people and the title they have placed upon him, Coriolanus finds himself banished from his home city.  Bent on revenge, the general aligns himself with his old Volscian enemies and marches back to Rome, intent to burn the city to ashes. With themes that seemed ripped from today’s headlines, William Shakespeare’s Coriolanus is a thrilling and poignant tale exploring the essence of democracy, the struggles of balancing personal and political loyalty and the relationship between governors and their people.

Why Coriolanus? Some thoughts from Artistic Director Steve Maler:

“Demonstrations in the street, politicians jockeying for the loyalty of the populace, consolidation of wealth in the oligarchy, mercurial and vague demands of the 99% - 2012, right?  No, this is the world of Shakespeare's Coriolanus, perhaps Shakespeare's most timely play. The play explores the quixotic and symbiotic connection between the governed and the governors - an issue we will are living through now in the 2012 presidential election.  Coriolanus will capture the energy and passion of the community as we determine leadership of our country for the next four years.  It will be a trilling and dramatic conversation with our audience!”