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Magical production underway at the outdoor theatre on the campus of the College of St. Elizabeth
BY STUART DUNCAN
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
REVIEW
"The Tempest" is one of William Shakespeare's shortest plays and when trimmed to taste, a perfect vehicle for an outdoor staging. For the past eight summers, The Shakespeare Theatre in Madison has taken one offering from its schedule and shifted the stage from its customary spot on the campus of Drew University and shuffled a mile or so up the road to the College of St. Elizabeth, which just happens to have a beautiful Greek-style amphitheater nestled into the backside of the campus.
The site is grass and stone – inspired by The Theatre of Dionysus in Athens – one of the only theaters of its kind in the U.S. and, on a warm, starlit evening, the perfect setting to celebrate the classics and, in the process, introduce children to the joy of the English language.
For all of its virtues, The Tempest" holds pitfalls for the unwary. In particular, the opening scene, the storm that gives the work its title, can be a genuine puzzlement to directors.
Should the opening be played for its realism, its violence and fury? Or should the scene suggest to an audience no more than a spell of romanticism, cast by a master magus, intending no harm. Or should indeed the opening be sped through as quickly as possible in order to get to the real meat of the evening – a bewildered band of ship-wrecked courtiers, a drunken butler and his liquor-sotted island beast, or perhaps the King of the island, Prospero, his lovely daughter and a most welcome suitor.There is no indecision in director Joe Discher's approach. He begins by introducing his entire company on stage, carting large, ancient trunks of various shapes and sizes that will serve as the only furniture props for our evening. He sets his storm in the very middle of the stage and surrounds it with the spirits of the island, some of whom enter from high above on the top steps, dragging a huge deep blue silk curtain, across the heads of the audience and down to the stage where it becomes in capable hands a roiling angry sea, rising and falling as if to engulf the tiny ship.
It suggests a multimedia event and is breath-taking in its power - and beauty
The cast is magnificent, led by A. Bernard Cummings, as Prospero, who brings a sense of physical as well as intellectual control of the role. Certainly the necessary expository speeches have never seemed so clear. He is given wonderful support, first by Joel de la Fuente, who plays Ariel without ever relying on the supercilious or the silly.
The young lovers are nicely played by Rachel Mewbron, as Miranda, and Michael Ellison, as Ferdinand. John Seidman is an excellent Gonzalo, without the fake pathos often accompanying the role, and Bill Christ is a splendid Alonso.
But the real excitement comes with the performances of Jay Leibowitz as Stephano, the drunken butler and his sidekick, Andy Paterson, as the court jester. Now add Mark Mineart as Caliban, the savage son of the evil Sycorax, who once ruled the isle, and you have the trio that steals both our laughs and, indeed, our hearts.
Director Discher clearly has emphasized enunciation at all times and the acoustics of the amphitheater are wonderful. Set designer Charles Calvert has given us a simple backdrop that for some may recall the seventies TV show "Laugh In." Andrew Hungerford has lit it (and indeed the surrounding area) dramatically.
Audiences are encouraged to use the hillocks surrounding the theater for picnicking. There is no July 4 performance.
"The Tempest" will run at The Greek Theatre on the campus of the College of St. Elizabeth, just off Madison Ave (Rte. 124) in Morris Township through August 2, Tuesday-Sunday evenings at 8:15. Tickets are $32.00 for adults; $16.00 for children under 17.
For information, call the box office at (973) 408-5600 or visit ShakespeareNJ.org.
