Coriolano spells warning against modern-day, false Vox populi

Poster from Tanghalang Pilipino's Facebook Page

by Gerone Baladhay

I don’t have any clue on why William Shakespeare wrote “Coriolanus” during the peak of Elizabethan monarchy in his days, but the message of the seldom staged but consistent thought-provoking tragedy still cries out-loud to this very day and its truths are eternal.

Tanghalang Pilipino’s final offering for their season— Coriolano, suitably translated by Guelan Luarca, conveyed the said truths and reached out to Filipino cognition the perpetual struggle of social classes, in the guise of Plebians (commoners) vs Patricians (elite), specifically to Cayo Marcio (played by Marco Viana) whose military leadership and war skills that gave the Roman Empire victories after victories in battle have earned him the exalted yet accursed moniker “Coriolano”.

Afflicted by hubris – the bugbear to almost all Greek tragedies – and with the urging of Menenio Agripa (Jonathan Tadioan) and zealot war brethren Cominio (Aldo Vencilao) and Tito Larcio (Joshua Tayco), Coriolano seeks to become Rome’s consul. But the would-be leader of the Roman people, is rather insensitive to the needs and demands of the commoners, whom many at first, found him a hero for fighting for their beloved city, but soon rose up to oppose this false pillar of the proletariat.

Deployed and engaged by the people’s tribune: Junio (Doray Dayao) and Sicinio (JV Ibaste), the masses stirred up rebellion and rabble founded on Coriolano’s false promises and back-stabbing agenda as he bogusly went around the marketplace to win votes. But the real fuel to the fire is the tribune’s cunning methods and use of the people’s regret to invoke a verdict of exile for Coriolano who is then stripped off his identity, citizenship and honor and labels it “democracy.”

Ends the first part of the play and the interval leaves the audience’s minds torn of who to side with. Coriolano is yes— a war hero, saved his state and the people, and would have been a strong leader, but his pride and superiority complex is not a suitable armor to wear when it comes to battling poverty that has plagued the people. He is unkind and could not care less for the last, lost and the least of the Romans. His betrayal to the people by false-agenda is garbage as many politicians or any politician for that matter would accurately do, hence it is only right to have him charged and be punished, but the means of the tribune does not justify the ends, since it was solicited anger and manipulated rage that came from the crowd not genuine people power.

Full of spite, the exiled Coriolano decided to rally with his enemy— Aufidio (Brian Sy) a Volscian general, who despite the thirst to kill his nemesis, decided to use his skills to bend Rome to his conquest, hence Coriolano, the hero of Rome became the general that will be his homeland’s downfall. Wining battles left and right, new soon reached Rome of the Volscian attacks lead by Coriolano. Mass hysteria succumbed the people who now felt remorse on their actions. The scheming tribune find themselves facing the people’s anger, the very people they cared for and find themselves questioning their own actions as right or wrong. Menenio himself thought he can change Coriolano’s mind, for good time sake, but was unsuccessful and faced the looming destruction of his people.

Yet, with hope Volumnia (Sherry Lara), Coriolano’s mother, along with other paraluman: Virgilia (Antonette Go), Coriolano’s heartbroken wife and their son Batang Marcio (Kych Minemoto) to make a compromise and have him declare peace. It is here that the mass-murdering tyrant has no match when it comes to family and becomes a hero once again for the people who threw him away. Angered by this weakness, as he is almost a finger near in invading Rome— Aufidio convinced his army, who have grown to worship Coriolano, that his surrender is his plan all along and that upon returning, Coriolano will give them their doom. Despite the Volscian leaders seeing Coriolano’s peace treaty as a venerable covenant between the two factions, Aufidio ends Coriolano’s life— leaving a mystery to his grounding of either a hero or executioner, an ally of his people or an enemy— or simply a man.

Director, Carlos Siguion-Reyna, have created a live vision that manifested the troubles of knowing the truth in the voice of the masses. Vox populi, vox dei as they said- “voice of the people, is the voice of God”, yet what moves such voice when the mouths speaking it are easily manipulated and coerced to voice wrong ideologies, fake news, solipsistic remarks and foul expressions.

Who do we trust when the majority itself speaks volume but speaks falsity? Do we choose sides or we choose the only remaining truth even if it’s a small voice in the shouting crowd?

Nonetheless, Tanghalang Pilipino’s “Coriolano” cautions us to think critical to messages being declared by different groups or factions who call themselves as the voice of the people, especially this election season. Be decisive to these deceptive vox populi and be wary of the heroes whom we worship. Instead listen well and listen hard— for amongst the masses there is that one honest voice that speaks louder.

Catch "Coriolano" at the CCP Little Theater. Show runs from February 22 till March 17, 2019. For ticket reservation and show buying opportunites, you can call Tanghalang Pilipino office 8321125 loc 1620 and ENZO 0999-88438321 or LEI 0915 6072275 or check on TicketWorld.