The Tempest in summer
by
Alec Clayton
Published
in the Weekly Volcano, Aug. 22, 2019
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| John Serembe as Stephano and Drew Doyle as Caliban, photo by Mishka Navarre |
Shakespeare’s The Tempest performed in
front of the viewing tower at Olympia’s Port Plaza is a beautifully staged
outdoor performance of one of the Bard’s last and most challenging plays. It opens with the crash of thunder and
lightning in a chaotic scene of a storm at sea performed in front of the scenic
background of the Port of Olympia. From there, a cadre of Olympia’s finest
actors perform magic and find love — and get drunk and obnoxious for an hour
and a half in a play significantly and expertly adapted by Director Kate Ayers
from the much longer original script, cutting out characters and entire scenes
to leave a core of exciting drama.
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| Silva Goetz as Arial, photo by Mishka Navarre |
Twelve years earlier, Prospero (Brian Tyrrell),
the former Duke of Milan, was deposed by his brother, Antonio (Michael
Christopher) and exiled to a deserted island where he lives with his daughter,
Miranda (Kate Anders), a magical creature named Ariel (Silva Goetz) and his
hideous enslaved monster, Caliban (Drew Doyle).
It is Prospero’s magic, aided by Ariel, that
causes the storm, which wrecks Antonio’s ship and strands Antonio and his
companions on Prospero’s island where Prospero conspires to use his magic to
restore himself to his rightful Dukedom.
The Tempest has been called a comedy and a romance.
It is a highly dramatic play with elements of comedy and tragedy (although minus
the usual bloodbath). There is love, there is intrigue, and there is excitement
akin to that of a disaster movie or a Star Wars-type adventure.
Tyrell is one of the South Sound’s most
celebrated actors. He recently retired from 25 years as a teacher and director at Centralia
College. He has acted at The Oregon Shakespeare Festival and has toured with
the National Shakespeare Company in New York.
As Prospero, he is majestic yet fully human.
Kate Anders is lovely and exciting to watch as Prospero’s daughter Miranda.
Michael Christopher’s Antonio and Christian
Carvajal’s Sebastian are a joy to watch as they conspire together and sword
fight with nothing and no one (thanks to Prospero’s magic which causes swords
to become impossible to lift).
The trio of the hideous monster Caliban (Doyle
with a shaved and painted head), the king’s jester, Trinculo (Heather Christopher),
and the king’s drunken butler, Stephano (John Serembe) provide comic
relief beyond belief. In one of the funniest scenes ever, Trinculo lies down on
top of Caliban and the drunken Stephano stumbles upon them and thinks he’s
seeing a monster with two heads and four legs.
Goetz’s Ariel is a joy to watch. She wears
beautiful blue robes and runs all over the Port Plaza with incredible speed,
arms spread and gown flowing like wings. She makes you believe in magic.
The setting with the tall viewing tower and the
water in the background is ideal for a play about a shipwreck on an island.
Seagulls calling throughout the play lend realism to the setting but can be a
distraction. You get used to it easily, however. Boats passing by and people
strolling Percival Landing can also be a distraction, but that is all part of charm
of outdoor theater.
Audience members are
encouraged to bring chairs and or cushions. Extra clothing is also recommended
since it tends to cool off considerably when the sun goes down. Food and
beverages are allowed on site during the show, but alcoholic beverages are not
allowed.
The Tempest, 8 p.m. Thursdays – Saturdays, through Aug. 31 (except
Aug. 24), Port Plaza, 701 Columbia St. NW, Olympia, free, thetempestolympia.com.
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