The Tempest plays it easy and breezy for Shakespeare in the Park
Elaborate design and live music add flourish to a straightforward summer staging.
Photo by Brian Collins
Opposite Boulevardia this weekend was a bunch of Bard-via in Southmoreland Park, where the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival staged this summer’s Shakespeare in the Park event, along with its many side events, concessions, and of course plenty of wine options.
Tackling The Tempest this summer, a bright and fantastical production took over our Saturday evening. In this straightforward adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play, the aforementioned tempest—summoned by magician Prospero—wrecks a ship upon an island and tosses most of the players into comedic, confused asides, while a central plot around a whimsical princess, her suitor, and a few fanciful creatures plays out.
Photo by Brian Collins
Bruce Roach’s turn as Prospero is warm and welcoming, and Amar Webb’s Miranda played it fanciful. R.H. Wilhoit’s Trinculo was, as per par for the course, a masterclass in stealing the show whenever he was on stage.
The addition of dance performers and live music accompaniment brought further pizazz to the show. With all that, the production would’ve benefited from taking a harder look at the material. A modern show that still treats Miranda’s virginity as her most valuable asset and that introduces many of these power dynamics between characters without a flinch/eyebrow raise is less a choice than a lack of examination.
Nothing wrong with playing it totally straight to the text, but in a show that also goofs on kettle corn, the door was certainly open to get looser and take thematic chances.
The Tempest runs Tuesday—Sundays through July 2, 2023. The show is free with an encouraged donation for general admission, and reserved tickets are available through the site lawn/chair seating.
6:00 p.m. – Gates open. Food and drink are available from Festival vendors through intermission.
6:30 p.m. – Pre-show Parody performed by Team Shakespeare
7:00 p.m. – Show Talk
7:15 p.m. – Pre-show Parody performed by Team Shakespeare
8:00 p.m. – The Tempest performance
This production runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a 15 minute intermission. ASL interpreters will be at the June 24th show.
