Twelve years ago, on an uncharted island in the Atlantic Ocean, there lived a powerful witch named Sycorax, her ill-favored son, Caliban, and a number of magical spirits whom Sycorax had imprisoned, including one named Ariel.
Prospero (Jacob Piel), the rightful Duke of Milan and his 3-year old daughter, Miranda, are cast adrift in a decrepit boat to die, after Prospero’s brother Antonio (Sinead Knepper) deposes him. Fortunately, a noble in his court, Gonzalo, manages to secretly fit out their craft with food, water, clothing, and most importantly of all, books from Prospero’s own library – some of which deal with sorcery.
The castaways wash ashore on Sycorax’ island, just as she has died. Caliban (Thomas Dixon) becomes Prospero’s servant, until he casts eyes at the beautiful Miranda (Akasha Ingram) as she grows into womanhood. Miranda is repulsed by Caliban’s ugliness, and Prospero, who by this time has become adept at sorcery, reduces his status to that of little more than a slave. Prospero also frees Ariel from her imprisonment, and so she serves him as well.
The deposed Duke of Milan, Prospero (Jacob Piel), who has conjured the tempest and shipwrecked his enemies (and a couple of friends) ponders his plans
It’s now twelve years later, and the villainous Antonio is on board a ship passing by Prospero’s island – along with Alonso (Sequoia Nelson), the Queen of Naples (who had helped Antonio depose his brother), and the Queen’s son, Ferdinand (Asa Monjares).
Also on board are Sebastian (Savanna Cooper), Alonso’s brother, and Francisco (Cian Turner), a lord who serves Sebastian, the elderly Gonzalo (Maggie Dixon), and of course the crew of the ship.
The ship is caught in a terrible tempest – conjured by Prospero – and founders near the island, with various groups of survivors struggling ashore at different points, making it easy for Prospero to work his magic upon them.
The spirits of the island whirl around the desperate passengers and crew of the doomed ship, brewing up the tempest that will soon shipwreck them on Prospero’s island
Director Adrianna True cast young actors for all the roles in The Tempest – from the 17-year old Jacob Piel who plays the middle-aged Prospero to the 7-year old Maggie Dixon who plays the aged and wise Gonzalo – as part of her commitment to the Cheyenne community to open up theatre to all ages.
Maggie Dixon (left) attacks her role as the aged Gonzalo as fearlessly as she faces down the order-shouting boatswain (Isaac Schmidt).
True also has fun with gender roles. In the original Shakespeare, Prospero was deposed by his brother, Antonio with the help of Alonso, the King of Naples. In True’s version, Alonso is the Queen of Naples. In addition, Prospero’s brother Antonio is played by a girl, Sinead Knepper and Alonso’s brother, Sebastian, is played by a girl, Savannah Cooper.
There are a few signals that may be seeking your attention. levitra sale http://downtownsault.org/silver-lining-antiques/ If the victim is harmed between the fifth and seventh cervical vertebrae, Cerebral palsy is likely to cheap discount viagra occur. Research has shown that autism is the fastest growing online chemical store in the world. order cialis http://downtownsault.org/restaurant-week/ Online stores which sell forzest discount cialis prescriptions are very secure resources for buying these pills at very inexpensive and cheap prices.
Alonso (Sequoia Nelson) mourns for her son, Ferdinand, whom she believes to be drowned.
Events have come full circle for Alonso, the Queen of Naples. She helped Prospero’s brother, Antonio, depose him, and now Antonio and her brother, Sebastian, are conspiring to kill her and her counsellor, Gonzalo, so that Antonio can become the King of Naples as well as the Duke of Milan.
Antonio (Sinead Knepper) and Sebastian (Savannah Cooper) plot to assassinate Sebastian’s sister, Alonso, Queen of Naples
Knepper and Cooper make fine conspirators – grim, humorless and without conscience – with their eyes always on one goal.
Caliban (Thomas Dixon) believes Stephano (Phoenix Turner) and Trinculo (Riona Nelson) are powerful lords and desires their help to kill Prospero so he might be free
The comedic elements of The Tempest come from Stephano (Alonso’s butler, who likes to drink) and Trinculo (Alonso’s Jester) who arrive on the island separately – thanks to Prospero’s magic – and meet with the unfortunate Calibran, who believes that they are powerful lords. Turner and Nelson enjoy themselves hugely in their roles and deliver a lot of laughs, especially as Ariel (Madison Webb) and Ariel Fragment (Rhowen Sutton) play tricks on them to befuddle them even more than they already are.
Ariel (Madison Webb) enters while Prospero (Jacob Piel) reads from his book and Miranda (Akasha Ingram) and Ferdinand (Brielle Bristol) fall in love
Ferdinand, the son of Alonso, the Queen of Naples, washes up on shore alone, and is found by Miranda and Prospero. Miranda, who has never seen any males except her father and the ugly Calibran, falls in love. (“Oh brave new world that has such creatures in it,” she exclaims.) In the production seen by this reviewer, Ferdinand was played by an understudy, a girl named Brielle Bristol, who did an excellent job as the lovesick swain.
Prospero sees his plans come to fruition. Miranda and Ferdinand in love, Alonso regretful, Gonzalo offering counsel
Jacob Piel has perhaps the most demanding role, as Prospero, the Duke turned Sorcer who uses his powers to restore what was once his, and bring happiness to others as well. (All except Caliban, of course – and Antonio and Sebastian who sulk til the end.)
Prospero shows his power with words – at times addressing people directly, at other times reading to them from his book, as if he’s telling a story that has already been written, and at times we, the audience, here his voice in our minds as he performs some conjuring. Piel is an imposing presence on stage, as Prospero should be.
Ariel Fragment (Rhowen Sutton) dances while Ariel (Madison Webb) and the other sprites strike poses, in a masque celebrating the upcoming nuptials of Miranda and Ferdinand
The Tempest is playing on weekends outdoors at McIllvaine Plaza on the campus of LCCC until Saturday, July 13. If there’s threatening weather, the performance will take place indoors in the Student Lounge.
It’s fun, it’s free, so come enjoy the True Troupe’s The Tempest before the spirits “melt into air, into thin air.”
