The Tempest
London’s AandBC Theatre Company’s production of The Tempest, slated for performance throughout the Fox River Valley in fall 2007, is a magical and engaging reinterpretation of one of Shakespeare’s most beloved plays. Staged in unique and non-traditional spaces, either in- or outdoors, this production takes place beneath a magnificent, illuminated helium balloon, nine meters in diameter, that casts an island of light defining the playing space. Audience members become part of the set by sitting on scattered, padded oil drums within the lighted circle. (see the barrel-seating arrangements for the performances)
Rich with issues that are still relevant today, The Tempest offers opportunities to discuss cultural differences, fear of the “other,” social hierarchies, and family relationships.
The Residency
The actors, director, and crew of London’s AandBC Theatre Company will be in residency for two weeks, September 23–October 7. During this time, they will provide workshops and discussions maximizing artistic and community engagement.
Complete edition of the play, courtesy of Renascence Editions
Overview of the Play
The play begins, appropriately enough, on a ship in the midst of a tempest, which tosses passengers and crew about mercilessly. The sailors warn the travelers, a group of aristocrats and nobles, to go below deck to safety, for their authority means nothing in the face of nature’s fury. The party is returning home from the wedding of the daughter of the King of Naples, Alonso, who is on board with his son, Ferdinand, and his brother, Sebastian. Also in the royal party are Antonio, the Duke of Milan, who has years before usurped the position of his brother, Prospero. Antonio’s counselor, Gonzalo, is accompanying him. The ship is wrecked on the shore of an island, but, miraculously, everyone survives unharmed.
Though no-one on board knows it, the storm is a creation of Prospero, a man of magical powers, who has been living on the island with his daughter, Miranda, for the last twelve years. The tempest is a part of Prospero’s plan to avenge the usurpation of his dukedom, since the shipwreck will bring his enemies to the island. As Prospero calms Miranda’s fears about the storm, he also reveals to her for the first time that he was once the Duke of Milan and explains that he was banished by his brother, Antonio. Put to sea twelve years earlier, Prospero and Miranda had Gonzalo to thank for their survival, since he furnished them with provisions. After this surprising revelation, Prospero uses his magic to put Miranda to sleep. He then calls in his spirit servant, Ariel, who reports that the storm and shipwreck have been carried out successfully and that the sailors have been put magically to sleep while the aristocrats have arrived safely ashore. In his early days on the island, Prospero released Ariel from a magic spell that had been placed upon him by a witch, Sycorax. Ariel, who now serves Prospero, is anxious to attain his freedom. Prospero assures him that his liberty will come once he has helped Prospero with his plans for his brother and the other aristocrats shipwrecked on the island.
Also reluctantly serving Prospero is Caliban, son of the witch, Sycorax. Prospero has made a slave of Caliban, and he forces him to hard labor, while punishing him with pinches and cramps. Caliban resents the domination of Prospero and the invasion of the island, which was his alone before Prospero’s arrival. Miranda has only disdain for Caliban, as does her father, since Caliban once tried to attack her.
The King of Naples’ son, Ferdinand, has been separated from the rest of the travelers, and when he wanders around the island, thinking that his father has been killed in the storm, he meets Prospero and Miranda. For Ferdinand and Miranda it is love at first sight. Prospero secretly approves, but pretends to dislike Ferdinand and sets him to work carrying logs.
Just as Ferdinand believes his father is dead, so does his father Alonso believe that Ferdinand has perished in the storm. Alsonso commiserates with his brother, Sebastian, his counselor Gonzalo, Prospero’s brother, Antonio, and some of the other travelers. Ariel puts all except Antonio and Sebastian to sleep, and the two conceive a plot to murder Alonso, so that Sebastian can take over his brother’s throne and become King of Naples. Ariel awakens Gonzalo just in time to thwart the evil plan.
Not far away, two of the ship’s travelers, Stephano and Trinculo, encounter Caliban. The strong drink that Stephano gives Caliban leads him to believe that Stephano is a god. Caliban encourages Stephano to kill Prospero and take over the island. The scene is very comical, and at the same time it replicates the more serious issue of colonialism present in the play.
Miranda and Ferdinand profess their love for one another, and Prospero agrees to their marriage. To celebrate, Prospero magically creates a masque, an elaborate spectacle featuring Iris, Ceres, and Juno. The celebration is interrupted by Prospero’s abrupt departure to quell the plot that Stephano and Caliban have laid.
Prospero brings his enemies to his cell where he meets them face to face for the first time in twelve years. He reveals to Alonso that Ferdinand is alive and in love with Miranda. He forgives not only his brother Antonio for usurping his throne but also Alonso and Sebastian, who had some part in the usurpation as well. Alonso restores Prospero to his dukedom and approves of the marriage between Miranda and Ferdinand. Stephano and Trinculo are forgiven for their plot to kill Prospero. Ariel at last is granted his freedom. Prospero casts off his magic cloak and leaves magic behind as he and all of the aristocrats return to Italy. Caliban is left alone on his island.
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