ianlouisiana Review of The Tempest

The Tempest (I) (2010)

"full fathom five thy father lies,of his bones are coral made.....

[3/10 · 15 September 2013]

and those are pearls that were his eyes"........just to remind us that Mr W Shakespeare wrote some of the greatest words ever conceived by a human being,because mostly they are mangled by the cast of the latest version of "The Tempest" which has clearly been fashioned for the "Harry Potter" generation with just a touch of"Kevin and Perry" introduced into the character of Ariel and a soupcon of stand - up provided by the ineffably smug Mr R.Brand. There is little point in dwelling on the gimmicky re - imagining of Prospero as Prospera which might find some support in Camden and Highgate or places where The Sisterhood gather to stick pins in images of Jim Davidson but may be seen for what it is - a desperate effort to offer Shakespeare in a "modern" and "relevant" context,ignoring the fact that each audience will find both those qualities from their own interpretation. Predictably enough only Miss H.Mirren speaks the Bard's words with any assuredness. Other cast members seem to think overacting is the default mode when faced with a script that requires one to understand and interpret the lines rather than parrot them. There are not many reasons to be thankful for old age,but I am grateful that I saw Gielgud's Prospero at Drury Lane in 1957. That night,on a small stage in a smokey,over - heated London theatre,magic was in the air. When I think of "The Tempest" it is that I return to.