Shakespeare's Tempest

[Keith]

The Globe and Mail's J. Kelly Nestruck picked The Tempest at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Stratford, Ont. as one of his top picks for 2010 .

"Because The Tempest was (it is said) Shakespeare's final play, great actors tend to take the role of Prospero as their farewell to the stage. Does this mean that Christopher Plummer – playing the role this summer at Stratford – is about to end his revels? Even the possibility makes this the theatrical event of the year. Among the supporting cast, we're particularly excited about the double act of drunks, Trinculo and Stephano, being portrayed by Bruce Dow and Geraint Wyn Davies. Stratford artistic director Des McAnuff is at the helm – though, given Plummer's reputation, we know who will really wear the pants. "

The show runs June 11 to Sept. 12

[ingrid_vienna]

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Together with Winter's Tale The Tempest is the last play Shakespeare ever wrote - and just like Winter's Tale it is a story about forgiveness, mellowness, if you want, a calmer view on life in late age. But while in Winter's Tale the gods influence the story by protecting both Hermione and her daughter Perdita from almost certain death, in Tempest it is the magic of Prospero that brings the story as well as the fates of everyone involved to fruition with the help of puckish spirit Ariel.

Stratford's production of the Tempest has been blessed with brilliant actors that lend a new and original view on the characters they play. For instance Julyana Soelistyo: she looks and acts the child-like part of Ariel, but adds the depth of lifetimes of experiences to her portrayal of the charming spirit Ariel. Director Des McAnuff lets her fly and giggle and even sprout wings for one scene and leaves us marveling about the depth of connection the flutterlight impish spirit and mighty Prospero actually have. For Prospero looks out for her almost like a father for his daughter. And speaking of daughters: Trish Lindstrom breathes life into Miranda, who, after twelve years of living alone on an island, the only companion her own father and Caliban, Dion Johnstone, a slave half man half snake with a temper to match and a deep rooted hatred for Prospero in his heart, finally blooms into maturity thanks to the love she feels for her prince.

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[emsworth]

Ingrid:

I suppose I could have been kinder to the rest of the cast in the Tempest review I just put up. I did enjoy the play a lot, and it's one of my very favorites. But the gap between Plummer's genius and the rest was too great! Truly, though, I do fault Des McAnuff for not keeping a tighter rein on the play overall. Blendick, Peter Hutt, and the rest really are top-notch actors, and I was disappointed not to see them at their best. How lucky you were to have been able to see this show three times! I still treasure Plummer's King Lear, seven years ago, as the highlight of my theater-going career.

Emsworth