On & Off Broadway

'The Tempest'

Review by Elyse Trevers

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Among the most impressive aspects of ‘The Tempest’, the first offering of The Public Theater’s free Shakespeare in the Park this summer, are the special effects done with lights and percussion.

The play begins with a storm that Prospero, a man of magic, has created causing the ship carrying his enemies to land on his island. The lighting and sound designers have created memorable visual and auditory effects — all within budget.

The play, one of Shakespeare’s last, is considered a romantic comedy despite some of its darker themes of revenge and slavery. Prospero tells his 15-year-old daughter Miranda (and the audience) the treacherous backstory of how they came to be alone on the island. He explains how his brother, Antonio, aided by King Alonso, usurped his throne. Prospero and his young daughter were cast out to sea in an old boat, but miraculously survived. Now, 12 years later, and aided by the spirit Ariel, he has the chance to exact revenge on those who have wronged him. Ultimately love overcomes the need for vengeance and Miranda is engaged to Sebastian, Alonso’s son. Prospero forgives everyone and releases Ariel from slavery. Read the play here.


The plot line, like many of Shakespeare’s plays, is complex with three storylines running concurrently. The most entertaining is the one with comic relief provided by two drunken characters: the jester, Trinculo (Jesse Tyler Ferguson, of TV’s Modern Family), and the drunken butler, Stephano.

Sam Waterston (Law and Order, NewsRoom), who has appeared in 13 Public Theatre productions, plays Prospero. He occasionally trips over his dialogue and seems a bit fragile, rather than majestic and vengeful. Juilliard student Francesca Carpanini makes a fine debut as Miranda. Louis Perfetti is a gentle and graceful Ariel. The show has a talented cast and an appreciative audience. The play, directed by Michael Greif, includes original music and acrobatics.

Although the audience kept hoping for a balmy evening, there was something poetic about the cloudy windy weather when I attended The Tempest. During the opening storm sequence, the wind actually picked up, jostling the miniature ship onstage. After an hour and a half of ominous skies, it finally began to pour, but then only briefly and only during intermission.

The Public Theater offers exciting free outdoor theater, and sometimes even Mother Nature performs on cue.