Martin Brady had some good things to say about CORIOLANUS, which he called “…a strong production, for this or any other year.” Here’s an excerpt:

Director Mark Cabus was originally planning to stage this drama with his own Naked Stages ensemble, but a fortuitous meeting with NSF artistic director Denice Hicks resulted in the companies joining forces.

Cabus seems very much at home working in Centennial Park, regaling his audience with an open and exceedingly active staging, including battle scenes and a violent Caesarian climax, plus a generally strong cast of principals supported gamely by the energetic NSF apprentice company.

While the Bard’s text remains intact where its Roman references are concerned, Cabus’ conceptualizing takes the play out of that strictly defined arena. Jonathan Hammel’s set is simple yet effective, with a large scaffolding behind the playing area, which is in turn anchored by a central sand pit that hosts the main events, both physical and rhetorical. In addition, Billy Ditty’s costumes are at least a few hundred years away from any toga party, with a manly simplicity for the males, and purple, magenta and burgundy hues in the females’ attractive dresses.

Click here for the full review.