Power and passion in Shakespeare's The Tempest

  Production still by Rick Malkin

Tomorrow (that's Sunday 1/31/10) marks the last chance to see Nashville Shakespeare Festival'scurrent production: The Tempest.  The 2:30 matinee show time combined with the central location of Belmont's Troutt Theatre should make for relatively safe driving conditions.

I shared the signal honor of seeing The Tempest with a group of intrepid theatre-goers who likewise braved the icy roads in search of Shakespeare. 

The stage, simply dressed and lit with blues and warm oranges warmed us as the lights dimmed.  The immediacy of the storm rises up out the darkness amidst flashes and cries and riveting live percussion and guitar.  We are swept away at once onto Prospero's the mystical island, given life and texture through beautiful lighting and almost impressionist set pieces that will soon take on a life all their own. 

As Prospero's foes struggle to shore, their ship aground, the vengeful Prospero (Brian Webb Russell) harnesses the might of his bound spirit Ariel (Denice Hicks) and monstrous servant Caliban (Jon Royal) to wreak his revenge, telling his innocent and naive daughter Miranda (Christiana White) just who these people are and why he has dashed them against the rocks.

 Director Claire Syler offers some thoughts during the Talkback session as scholar
 James Wells and cast look on.

The sorcerer has twelve years of exile to avenge upon his brother, Antionio (Robert Marizga), who stole his title and set him adrift with an infant daughter.  Prospero has no intention of letting anyone off lightly.

This winter production has tremendous merit, taking us out of our frozen world and into a land of whimsy and redemption. Scholars argue whether The Tempest is properly a comedy or a romance.  The play, written with a nod to the classical past while fully engaging the romance of the English Renaissance, would most certainly fall into the modern literary genre of supernatural romance.  The movie studios would call it a romantic comedy. All this aside, many scholars consider The Tempest one of Shakespeare's most important works.

As one might expect of the Nashville Shakespeare Festival, each role and scene are approached with great care and energy.  Claire Syler's excellent direction, a host of great actors (from mighty Prospero himself to the very busy spirits under his command), some skilled designers and (get this) flight operators all came together in the swirling maelstrom of the Bard's rich language to create a unique presentation of The Tempest.  This is a play that most certainly knows it's a play, but audiences may just get lost in the magic.

  Production still by Rick Malkin

Logan L. Masterson
Nashville Theatre Examiner
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