Lake County Gazette

When Shakespeare’s "Coriolanus" was performed in an immersive style in Chicago, Catherine Reedy, a Visiting Assistant Professor of English, experienced the play as more than just a spectator. Her insights were featured in an article by the Folger Shakespeare Library. As Lake Forest College's resident expert on Shakespeare, Reedy shared how the performance changed her understanding of the themes of politics, persuasion, and mob mentality.

The article titled “What is the city but the people?” discusses the company's approach to making the audience part of the performance. Reedy commented on this experience: “You’re blended in with the actors scurrying past you, and watching the crowd respond in real time while you’re responding with them.”

Reedy described feeling like part of the on-stage mob during this exhilarating yet disorienting experience. This effect highlighted the political themes of "Coriolanus." She teaches courses on early modern literature and Shakespeare at Lake Forest College and encourages students to see how classic texts are relevant today. Her feature in the Folger article highlights Lake Forest College’s focus on experiential learning.

The Folger Shakespeare Library is located on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. It holds a vast collection of William Shakespeare's printed works and rare materials from Britain and Europe during the early modern period.