REVIEW: Coriolanus Vanishes, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe ✭✭✭

Paul T Davies reviews David Leddy's play Coriolanus Vanishes at the Traverse Theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Irene Allen in Coriolanus Vanishes. Photo: Sid Scott Coriolanus Vanishes Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe

16 August 2018

3 Stars

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David Leddy's play is bold in ambition, a complex tragedy in which connections are made between personal relationships and bigger organisations and corporate realtions between government and, in particular, the arms industry. Chris has experienced three deaths, one after the other, and now is in prison for a crime revealed towards the end. Originally performed by Leddy himself, the play can be performed by any gender without any change of text. This adds a fascinating level to an already excellent and layered performance by Irene Allan, she is mesmerising.

Fire and Exit's production also boasts excellent lighting choreography, although I wasn't always clear about its purpose. Chris works for the arms industry, and the chain reaction between her childhood abuse and the worldwide abuse carried out by regimes sometimes feels a little simplistic, but there is no doubt that this is a well researched piece. She also speaks into several microphones, again this feels like an unessessary distraction.

Where the play does succeed is in the timing of it's revelations. Perhaps some of the lighting indicates heat seeking missiles, and when the play finds its targets, Allan's performance is gripping.

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