The
Tempest
By William Shakespeare
Savage
God: The Shakespeare Project
Director: John Juliani
Venue: Christ
Church Cathedral Dates: 22-23 November 2002
Reviewer: Jane
Penistan
Once
again the Cathedral was almost full for the Saturday evening performance
of The Tempest. Savage God's Shakespeare Project now has an enthusiastic
following who enjoy the excellent work this talented company continues
to produce. The mix of experienced and tyro actors give young aspirants
an opportunity to work with mature performers.
The younger members of the cast are able to explore the texts under expert
direction, and older members are now fortunate enough to play some of
Shakespeare's most demanding roles, which were unavailable to them in
their earlier years in Canadian theatre. The audiences gain the most from
these staged readings, as they can enjoy listening to the wonderful well
delivered speeches.
Savage God also pays attention to the music of the plays and is blessed
with accomplished composers and musicians in the company, as it is supposed
that Shakespeare himself enjoyed.
In this play, Miranda Duffy presented a graceful, musical and enchanting
Ariel, in contrast to the deep voiced, earthbound and surly Caliban of
Alvin Sanders. Of the shipwrecked royal company, Peter Haworth was a silver
tongued Gonzalo, always the loyal and considerate elder courtier, apparently
artlessly trying to hold the court together while his king (John Paterson)
is distraught with grief at the loss of his son.
Luisa Jojich was a charmingly unsophisticated Miranda, enthralled by Prince
Ferdinand (Robert Moloney) and amazed at the other members of the shipwrecked
court. Donald Adams played a boisterous Stephano and Chris Robson a less
truculent Trinculo to provide earthy, comic relief.
The next Shakespeare Project presentations will be in 2003, beginning
on 17 and 18 January, with The Two Gentlemen of Verona, followed
on 14 and 15 February with The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida,
and on 28 and 29 March The Tragedie of Othello the Moor of Venice.
All performances are at 19.00 at Christ Church Cathedral, Georgia and
Burrard, Vancouver.
© 2002,
Jane Penistan
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