This Week in Palm Springs
Special Events
08/05/2010 - Idyllwild Summer Concert
08/05/2010 - Ringo Starr/All Starr Band
08/07/2010 - Tribute to Nickelback
08/07/2010 - Rob Thomas
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The Old Globe Theatre
San Diego, Calif., is a world-class vacation area, boasting one of America’s great public parks smack in the middle of this cool and inviting seaside city. It is also the site for one of America’s leading regional theatres. The 75-year-old Old Globe Theatre complex is home to three performing venues: The Old Globe main stage, the James C. Copley Arena Stage and the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. All three are just a half-block stroll from one another, and just less than a two-hour drive from Palm Springs.
Every summer from June through September, Shakespeare takes center stage in the Davies Outdoor Theatre. Three plays are performed in repertory, a theatrical convention that allows a company of players to perform different roles in each of the three productions during the run. It is rewarding for the actors who get a chance to do three different roles or characters, and it is fun for the audience who get to view the professional talent, skill and range of the entire company. “Rep” is a win-win situation for live theatergoers. The three productions currently in rep in the outdoor festival theatre are: “Coriolanus,” “Twelfth Night” and “Cyrano de Bergerac” starring the inimitable Patrick Page as the poet/swordsman. I just returned from seeing a performance of “Coriolanus,” Shakespeare’s seldom-seen tale of pride and perfidy, which plays through Sept. 25. Originally set in ancient Rome, current Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak has fast-forwarded his players and action to the present time. Shakespeare’s story of a popular general and war hero strikes an eerie connection to modern situations concerning how our society deals with our soldiers and war heroes, as well as our defeated foes. War is hell, as we all know. And yes, and it’s a dirty job, but somebody has to do it. The tragedy of General Coriolanus is that he’s too damn good at what he does. Fame and fortune are capricious and fleeting and come with a price tag. He also fails to understand how short is the attention span of the public he serves. His pride won’t allow him to compromise, and the crowds, in their fickleness, won’t let him forget it. The exploited, wounded and fallen hero is powerless to change the course of his own destiny. Even the protestations and pleadings of his family for him to bend to the government and the public’s demands can’t move him from his principled and unyielding position. It’s classic Greek tragedy and grist for the Shakespearean mill. Under the deft and creative direction of Tresnjak, the company delivers stellar performances that are both movingly and convincingly played right down to the smallest role. Celeste Ciulla is a standout delivering a very strong performance as Coriolanus’s mother who matches her son’s intensity in her effort to have him moderate his behavior toward the government and the citizenry. However, the evening belongs to Greg Derelian as Coriolanus, who is a towering and powerful presence on stage. His entrance in modern-day battle fatigues and boots sends an electric shock through the audience. Derelian is a riveting and commanding performer who totally dominates his stage. It’s almost too strong an effort, but what a performance! The production’s technical credits are first-rate as well. The set on the outdoor stage designed by Ralph Funicello is functional and well thought out, and the lighting design by York Kennedy provides the proper mood for the actors to create their magic. “Coriolanus” is an intriguing production and one not to be missed. However, a word of caution: Balboa Park in August and September can be quite cool once the sun goes down, so take a sweater or jacket. The production runs through Sept. 25. Call (619) 234-5623 for tickets and reservations, or click here. For more about the "Coriolanus" performance at The Old Globe, click here.  Palm Springs Guides Jack Lyons is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild and is interested in all things “show biz.” He is an entertainment journalist, TV, radio and theater reviewer/critic. Jack is seen locally in the Coachella Valley on channel 13 KPSE-TV on “Desert Entertainment This Week.” Click here to visit Jack’s blog. | |||||||
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Shakespeare’s Roman General dons a new look sporting Camouflage Fatigues and Boots
