Theatre Review
Production: The Tempest
By: William Shakespeare
Main players: Jennifer Lines, Allan Morgan, Julie McIsaac, John Murphy, Darren Dolynski, Russell Roberts, Kyle Rideout, Naomi Wright, Colleen Wheeler, Bob Frazer
Director: Meg Roe
Where: Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival Vancouver, Studio Stage
Run: June 26 - September 20 

Reviewed By: Tessa Perkins (Vancouver Correspondent - Canada) 

Set on a tropical island filled with supernatural beings, The Tempest blends the influences of Jacobean London with the earthy, magical atmosphere of the island. The characters of the play are all trying to determine what their identity is and they struggle to find themselves on this charmed island. Throughout the entire play, the comedic characters and enchanting spirits make for a captivating performance. With beautiful costumes, wonderful live musicians, and amazing acrobatics, The Tempest is truly a joy to behold.

Prospero (Morgan) and his daughter, Miranda (McIsaac), are shipwrecked on a deserted but enchanted island after his brother Antonio (Murphy) and Alonso the King of Naples (Bradbury) have usurped his throne of Milan. The play begins fifteen years later when the courtiers of Milan and Naples become shipwrecked on the same island.  

Ariel (Lines) is Prospero's spirit of the air whom he has control over, and she stands out as the star of the play, perfectly suited her character. Her mannerisms and voice transform her into an airy sprite with windswept hair and transparent wings. The other spirits of the island are also captivating as they perform acrobatic poses together and back-flip and leap everywhere. They do not have any speaking parts, but they have a strong and meaningful presence while they contribute to the action and the humour. 

Caliban (Frazer) is Prospero's captive slave who is the son of an evil sorceress, and although he is normally portrayed as a hideous beast; this version has him as a very attractive but savage island boy. Stephana (Wheeler) and Trincula (Wright) fall for Caliban and he leads them on a drunken mission to kill Porspero. These two ladies of Naples are the comedic highlight of the show, and they have such effusive chemistry that is perfectly timed to keep the audience laughing the whole time the two are on stage together. 

The romance that forms between Miranda and Ferdinand, the son of Alonso (Dolynski), is well acted by the two and they are often in their own world. The two are so taken with each other that they are engaged the same day they meet. Miranda has never seen any other men before, but she says that Ferdinand is the only one she would ever want to be with. There is a wedding for the two, but the revelry is put to a stop when Prospero remembers that Ariel told him of Caliban's plot to kill him. Prospero is the anchor to the play around whom all the action revolves. He commands the spirits, sets up Ferdinand and Miranda to fall in love, and restores everything to its rightful state in the end. He is a forceful presence not to be reckoned with in his long flowing green and blue robes, carrying his tree branch, and giving orders to his faithful Ariel.