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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