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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-08-26, Page 19THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2010. PAGE 19. Entertainment Leisure&‘The Tempest’ provides Plummer a chance to shine Admittedly I went into this year’s production of The Tempest at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival a little biased due to my admiration for star and Festival veteran Christopher Plummer. Having said that, I probably would have thought the play was great as long as Plummer didn’t walk out to centre stage and physically falling on his face, simply because he was in it. After presenting that preface, however, I can honestly say that The Tempest was a great way to spend a few hours. The Stratford Shakespeare Festival played right into my (and many others’) favour with Plummer’s reveal, as he rushed down the steps not three seats from me, giving starstruck audience members their moment of “Oh my God, he was right there!” However, beyond a starstruck audience watching an Academy Award-nominated actor perform for them, there was a great show to be seen with visionary directing, superb acting and just enough special effects to wow the audience, but not make them feel like they were watching the fourth installment of The Matrix. The native Torontonian was the standout of the production to be sure in his performance as Prospero. Being a veteran of films like The Sound of Music, The Battle Of Britain, Jesus of Nazareth, Dial M For Murder, 12 Monkeys, The Insider, A Beautiful Mind and The Last Station, Plummer is recognizable at first, but he soon blends into his role, peppering his performance with small nuances that bring out the sparkle of the production’s eyes. The Tempest, which was called one of Shakespeare’s “tragicomedies”, which was no doubt a precursor to the term “dramedy”, features the complex weaving of three storylines that come to a head at the end of the production, all seemingly orchestrated by Prospero, a magician who has been stranded on a deserted island for 12 years. Prospero and his daughter Miranda (who was three years old at the time) were cast off to the island by Prospero’s jealous brother Antonio, with the help of Alonso, the King of Naples. Twelve years later, after Prospero was seen to by the king’s counsellor without the king’s knowledge (a collection of food, supplies and Prospero’s magic books lined the bottom of the ship from which the pair would then draw upon for the next 12 years in order to survive) Miranda (played by Trish Lindström) is a woman and Prospero has revenge on his mind. Prospero then, with the help of a spirit and a slave, played brilliantly by Julyana Soelistyo and Dion Johnstone respectively, begins to tug on the puppet master strings, arranging for Miranda and Ferdinand (King Alonso’s son) to fall in love, therefore earning his daughter nobility, which was stripped from him as the right Duke of Milan. As a magician, Prospero flexes his muscle more than once, disarming opponents of their swords without his hands, resulting in a floating sword that produced more than a few oohs and awws from the audience. Once the ship carrying Antonio and Alonso has landed on the island, Prospero puts his plan into action, dispatching the slave Caliban and the spirit Ariel to do his bidding. Along the way however, these servants become disenchanted and Caliban meets two drunkards who feed him wine and prove (in his mind) to be better leaders for him. So while Miranda and Ferdinand begin to fall in love and Antonio and Alonso begin the search for Ferdinand, the third storyline, featuring Caliban, Trinculo and Stephano takes shape as the trio begin their quest to kill Prospero. The worlds of natural and supernatural are blended in a very real and believable way in The Tempest where as much consideration is given to a flying spirit and a sea monster as is given to a young girl embarking on her first romantic relationship. There are genuine belly-laughs in the production, some more wholesome than others, as well as true stints of drama as lives hang in the balance of Prospero’s magical game. Bruce Dow’s Trinculo and Geraint Wyn Davies’s Stephano are fabulous in their hilarious turns as drunkards, one drastically more flamboyant than the other, but playing off of each other brilliantly in their third of the play. In Antonio and Alonso’s third of the play, the standout is Timothy D. Stickney’s Sebastian, who has an idea placed in his head by Ariel that a quick murder of the King, now that the King’s son is missing, would place a crown upon his head. His struggle is real and dramatic as he struggles going forward on the search alongside his fellow countrymen. While proven Blyth Festival actors have shown time and again that they will often graduate to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s stage, that same stage can often be a proving ground for established screen actors who want to get back to their roots and Plummer’s time with Stratford can only be looked upon as a blessing and The Tempest may be one of its finest examples. Forthcoming Marriage Klaas and Shelley Jorritsma of Brussels along with Terry and Tammy Austin of Napanee would like to announce the forthcoming marriage of their children Joshua Jordan and Jessica Lyn on September 4, 2010 at the home of the groom’s parents. Open reception to follow at the BMG Community Centre at 9 pm. Friends and family welcome. Happy 80th Birthday Jim Knight August 30th From your family HHaappppyy 2200tthh AAnnnniivveerrssaarryy JJoosseeff && SSuussaannnnee SSttuuddhhaalltteerr AAuugguusstt 2244 Love your family and friends By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen A summer blockbuster At the heart of Shakespeare classic and Stratford Shakespeare Festival production The Tempest is a story about a father and a daughter, who are both played to perfection by Christopher Plummer and Trish Lindström. (David Hou photo) 55th Anniversary Celebration for Shirley & George Wheeler To be held at the Brussels Legion SATURDAY, AUGUST 28TH, 2010 From 2:00 - 4:00 pm Drop in for a visit and refreshments. In lieu of gifts a donation to the Cancer Society would be appreciated.