‘The Tempest’
Youth rules in MiraCosta College/North Coast Repertory Theatre’s co-production of Shakespeare’s late fantasy The Tempest, playing through March 14 at MiraCosta’s campus theater. North Coast Rep’s David Ellenstein directs.
You remember The Tempest, in which the treacherous Antonio (John Tessmer) usurped his own brother Prospero (Jonathan McMurtry), the duke of Milan, and set him adrift with his young daughter Miranda (Aimee Burdette) in hopes they would drown.
But they survived, thanks to provisions secretly provided by Prospero’s honest counselor Gonzalo (Kelly Kissinger), and have lived for the past dozen years on a remote but enchanted island on which they were the only human inhabitants.
As the audience enters the theater, a huge storm is raging and a boat carrying Antonio, his friend the king of Naples Alonso (Neil McDonald) and several mariners is about to sink (which it does, before your eyes).
They are saved by order of Prospero, a philosopher and expert in the magical arts, who sends his servant, the sprite Ariel (Christopher M. Williams) to rescue them. The two brothers meet again, as do the lovely Miranda and Alonso’s handsome son Ferdinand (Ryan Kidd), and the the Bard’s social commentary deriving from these plot strands covers many of the topics that occupied him in later years, among them revenge vs. forgiveness, illusion vs. reality and freedom vs. slavery.
Though the show features veterans McMurtry as Prospero (who looks and sounds great but uncharacteristically stumbled over several lines) and sometime San Diegan Richard Baird as the not-quite-human slave Caliban, it’s the young performers who steal the show.
Well, youngish. Stealing this show is Williams, whose astonishing Ariel is dressed a bit like an Olympic speed skater in what looks to be latex, extremely attractive and light on his feet. This Ariel can sing, dance, leap (possibly over tall buildings) and is the only truly enchanted-looking presence on this stage.
Also terrific are MiraCosta students Burdette and Kidd, perfectly cast as the young lovers Miranda and Ferdinand. Burdette’s wide-eyed innocence (aided by costume designer Michelle Hunt Souza’s lovely white gauzy dress) is exactly what the role needs, and Kidd is young, handsome, convincing and exactly what any girl that age would want.
The supporting cast is also excellent, particularly the jester Trinculo (Jason Maddy) and Kissinger’s kindly courtier Gonzalo.
Souza has gone all out with these costumes, some of which are fantastic, others practical, but all just right. And kudos to set designer Dixon Fish for his multi-level, craggy set complete with a sinking ship.
Aimee Burdette, Jonathan McMurtry and Christopher M. Williams in 'The Tempest' at MiraCosta College
Shakespeare may or may not have been bidding farewell to the theater when he has Prospero give up his magic, but this production certainly gives us reason to dream.
The Tempest plays through March 14, 2010 at the MiraCosta Theatre. Shows Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. For tickets call (760) 795-6815 or visit www.miracostatheatre.com.
