The play features an all women and non-binary cast to share one of Shakespeare’s Roman tragedies with audiences

By Cameron Aalto, Ashland.news

“Coriolanus,” one of Shakespeare’s most rarely produced plays, hits the stage Tuesday, July 23, in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Thomas Theatre. 

Directed by Rosa Joshi, the play tells the story of a powerful yet starving population and a war-hero turned politician. In his attempt to be made consul, he offends the civilian plebeians and is rejected not only by the population, but also tribunes who exiled him from Rome.

The Roman tragedy is described by Joshi in an email interview as “a complex story with a complicated central character. Coriolanus is not clearly sympathetic but also not a clear villain who you can ‘love to hate.’ He’s a war hero with a deep sense of integrity on his way to the highest political office in the state — the hitch is that he has to beg for it from the common people, and he despises the common people. And he can’t hide it like the other politicians in the play do.”

When asked why people should attend the show, Joshi shares, “the production is infused with stylized movement that supports the story telling” which can be seen through “(a) mob that is a ‘hydra,’ soldiers storming a city, actors transforming before your eyes into different characters.” She describes the production as “visually dynamic and highly physical,” and adds that “the ensemble of actors who make the play are amazing — the virtuosity of their performance, I think, will captivate an audience.”

Joshi explains that the depth of Coriolanus’ character is one of the reasons that she decided to direct the play: “at the same time, Coriolanus is a fascinating character who has real vulnerability, humanity and depth — and that is what really draws me to this play. There’s no easy answers and I find that absolutely entrancing.”

Originally approached to direct the show by Portland Center Stage, Joshi writes that the small cast size and themes of leadership applicable to contemporary circumstances were additional motivations: “I was approached to do this play initially by Portland Center Stage as a workshop exploring if we could do it with a small cast. That was exciting as it invited a level of theatricality that is compelling to me. And I’m always interested in plays that examine the nature of leadership. I think in a democracy it is always essential for us to explore what we want in our leaders. It’s what keeps (Shakespeare’s) history plays alive and relevant to me as a contemporary American citizen.”

The plays official description states that its “themes of ambition and delicate democracy … will particularly resonate during an election year.” When asked about the parallels that viewers might see, Joshi explains, “I’m always thinking about how a classic play that is centuries old will connect with a contemporary audience. I think the politics of ‘Coriolanus’ will resonate with (the) audience. While Coriolanus is definitely the central character, this is also the story about a down-trodden populace manipulated by ambitious, duplicitous politicians who are in turn threatened by a revered but unpredictable war hero. The politicians in the play don’t love the people, but they know how to hide their disdain in order to stay in power.”

She states that “the circumstances (of the play) and the political dynamics are definitely familiar” and that “(u)ltimately it’s a story for me about the fragility of democracy itself. Does democracy work? And this felt like an approach that would speak to who we are in the world today.”

In a unique approach, “Coriolanus” will feature a full cast of women and non-binary actors. The production, presented by OSF and Portland Center Stage, is also partnering with Upstart Crow Collective.

Upstart Crow Collective reimagines classical plays by “producing racially diverse casts of women and non-binary people.”

Joshi states that “the choice of cast is very intentional. It comes from a desire to create more opportunities for women and non-binary people in the Western classical canon and also to examine how we experience these stories when these actors occupy the stage. We don’t change the gender of the characters on stage, we focus on playing the truth of character and on telling the story. And then when you do this, things that we ‘take for granted’ get thrown up into the air and we start to question the ‘norms’ of gendered behavior.”

In addition to this, Joshi says that the opportunity of an all-woman and non-binary cast provides the opportunity “… to see incredible actors take on roles they don’t normally have access to playing. And it opens up who can tell these stories. It allows young women and non-binary people to imagine themselves in these classic plays in new ways. And it (allows) all of us to experience how truly expansive Shakespeare can be — how the plays can hold all of humanity inside them.”

The eight-person cast of Coriolanus “telling this epic story we get to engage with (is) a kind of theatricality that I love,” said Joshi. Some actors will play both characters with power and characters without, “senators turn into citizens on stage on a dime,” she says. Because of this, Joshi explains that viewers can see each character’s humanity: “when you have the people in power played by the same actors as the common people, (…) a certain shared humanity comes through. The oppressors literally become the oppressed right before your eyes. It’s the kind of storytelling that I find thrilling and that can only happen in the theater — where an audience leans in and actively engages their imagination to create the world.” 

“Coriolanus” is scheduled to run from July 23 to Oct. 13 with preface events offered by OSF at Carpenter Hall.    

To order a ticket, click here.

Ashland.news intern Cameron Aalto is a recent graduate of Southern Oregon University. Email him at aaltoc@sou.edu.

On July 6th, Minnesota Vikings rookie and former Oregon Duck Khyree Jackson Passed away in a fatal car accident. Monday, the Vikings announced they would honor the late rookie in the upcoming 2024 season. 

Jackson’s locker at the Vikings facility will go unused this season in his remembrance. The Vikings will also wear helmet decals with his initials “KJ” and his number 31 will also not be used this season. Staff will receive pins to wear and there will be some stenciling on the practice fields to honor him too. 

Additionally, the Vikings organization will pay out the remainder of Jacksons $827,000 signing bonus on his rookie contract to his estate as well as will contribute $20,000 for funeral expenses. 

The former Oregon star’s funeral will be held Friday. Jackson’s Family scheduled a joint funeral with Isaiah Hazel, a high school teammate of Jackson and one of three people killed in the accident. Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, head coach Kevin O’Connell, defensive coordinator Brian Flores, special teams coach Matt Daniels and defensive backs coach Daronte Jones will attend.  

In Monday’s press conference O’Connell shared that the team will also hold a private memorial in Minnesota for players and staff with Jackson’s family in attendance. 

“You felt Jackson had such a laser focus on what his mission and what his plan was,” O’Connell said. “It really showed up in the spring. He had a very, very good spring and was really looking forward to coming back to training camp and being well on his way and on that path to having a big impact on our team for this year. Just some of my personal dialogue with him and the work he was putting in throughout the summer, you just knew he was going to come back and do that.” 

Unfortunately, Jackon would never return to training camp. Early Morning on July 6th Jackson and two of his high school teammates, AJ Lytton and Isaiah Hazel, passed away in an auto accident.  

According to Maryland state police Jackson, Hazel and Lytton were in a Dodge charger that was hit by another vehicle which was attempting to change lanes while driving at a high rate of speed. Although there have still not been any charges and there is still an ongoing investigation, Investigators believe alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the crash. 

The University of Oregon held a vigil for Jackson in Autzen Stadium where multiple players and coach Dan Lanning gave tributes and shared their memories of Jackson. 

“Khree is one of those people that I enjoyed every single day getting to go work with him and see that big smile,” said Lanning at the vigil. “You’re gonna have a hard time finding a picture floating around that has Khyree in it that doesn’t have a big smile on it.”  

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is considering rate range increases for camping and facility fees for the public and is seeking comment on the proposed changes.

The rate increases are necessary due to increased utility costs, operations, maintenance needs and inflation, OPRD said in a news release. The rate range increases would not increase fees automatically. The range gives flexibility to adjust the fees within the range over time and avoids large increases all at once, OPRD said.

Examples for the proposed rate range changes include:

A full hook-up campsite with a current rate of $33 and rate range of $26 to $40 would see a proposed rate range increase of $33 to $52 for Oregonians and a range of $41.25 to $65 for out-of-state visitors.

A rustic cabin with a current rate of $52 and a rate range of $42 to $62 would see a proposed rate range increase of $52 to $81 for Oregonians and a range of $65 to $101.25 for out-of-state visitors.

An RV with a current rate of $120 and range of $100 to $120 would see a proposed rate range increase of $120 to $200 for Oregonians and $150 to $250 for out-of-state visitors.

The full list of proposed rate range changes can be found at bit.ly/3Sw0Uph.

How to comment on proposed Oregon Parks and Recreation Department rate changes

The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department said it would accept comments on the proposed changes through 5 p.m. Aug. 30.

Comments can be submitted by email, mail, online or during three public hearings.

Online: bit.ly/4cE5z0k

Mail: OPRD Department, attn: Katie Gauthier, 725 Summer St NE, Suit C, Salem, OR., 97301

Email: OPRD.Publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov

A virtual hearing is planned for 5:30 p.m. July 31. Register at this link: bit.ly/3S7TOGZ.

In-person hearings are set for the following dates:

• 5:30 p.m., Aug. 6: Nehalem Bay State Park Meeting Hall, 34600 Garey St., Nehalem
• 5:30 p.m., Aug. 13: North Mall Office Building, 725 Summer St. NE, Salem. Must arrive by 6 p.m. to testify.

After the public comment period ends, the proposal, with any updates, is slated to go to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission in September or November. Changes in rate ranges would not be effective until the budget is approved by the Oregon Legislature and signed by the governor in 2025.

Emma Logan is an outdoors journalism intern for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at elogan@salem.gannett.com or on X @emmmalogan