By Liz Eichler
You had me at Q-Kidz, CSC.
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s The Tempest is an island fever dream of a production. From casting, to direction to the visuals, this is a winner.
The Plot of The Tempest
Shakespeare’s final play tells the story of Prospera, the rightful Duke of Milan, who has been exiled to a remote island with her daughter, Miranda. On this island she uses magic to control the spirits and the elements. Years later, she conjures a storm—the tempest—to shipwreck her usurping brother Antonio and the King of Naples, who are passing nearby. With the help of the spirit Ariel, Prospera manipulates events on the island to confront her enemies and seek justice. Also to find a handsome prince for Miranda. Meanwhile, comic subplots unfold as shipwrecked servants and a drunken butler get entangled with Caliban, a native of the island. In the end, Prospera forgives those who wronged her, frees Ariel, and prepares to return to Milan, giving up magic for good.
Shakespeare’s Themes
One of the central themes of The Tempest is the blurred line between illusion and reality. Prospera’s famous line, “We are such stuff as dreams are made on,” reminds us that life itself is fleeting and ephemeral. There is no fixed “is”—only shifting perspectives and constructed truths. I also challenge audiences to count how many times Shakespeare has a character say, “Thou liest.” It’s a clever, recurring reminder that language shapes our version of reality—and sometimes, we need to be called out on the lies we live by.
Other major themes include Power and Control—how language can seize authority, obscure the truth, or strip others of their agency. Hmmm. Sound familiar? The play also confronts us with Colonialism: the unsettling question of who has the right to claim land or dominate others. Watching today, we can’t help but feel the discomfort. Caliban (Sylvester Little Jr.) can be seen as a monster, but he’s also a complicated figure whose home and sovereignty have been stolen by someone fighting to reclaim her own lost title. The play dares us to consider whose power is legitimate—and at what cost.
Direction
Under the able–and clearly loving—controlling hand of director Candace Handy, this is a production full of energy, captivating visuals, layered with music, and abuzz (literally) with life. The Q-Kidz set the tone, and one of the most joyful moments is the dance at the end, when they really let go and all connect, showing their allegiance to Caliban. Handy has ensure the show moves at a quick pace, yet takes the time for some comic antics, as well as underlining the precious moments.
Performances in The Tempest
Hannah Gregory as Ariel owns the show. One of the most compelling performances of Ariel I have ever seen, from physicality, vocals with sound manipulation, and musically. She is light as air, slippery as a fish, childlike, and obedient, but desperate to be free.
Again, setting the tone for this Tempest are the wonderful Island Spirits include Aiden Sims and the K-Qids: Davian Brooks, Zakari Clark, Laurion Cook, De’Unniey Crawford, Queen Hadden, Shalin Harmon, and Taylor Tolliver (Understudy).
Leslie Brott as Prospera does a solid job, clearly controlling the world around her with both an iron fist and a benevolent long term vision. Miranda (Dani Grace Nissan) and Ferdinand (Jason Coffenberry) are appropriately sweet and innocent, and besodden with each other.
The Royals are another contingent from the shipwreck, one group walks about, searching for the King’s son, Ferdinand, while others are plotting for power. Jasmine Bouldin plays Sebastian as a laid back listener, speaking as needed, supporting Jeremy Dubin’s Antonio in his plot. (Bouldin’s costume reflects status and wins the “best pants” of the Theatre season.) Dubin’s final teary face is a soliloquy in itself, unwritten by Shakespeare, but expressing joy, sorrow, desire for forgiveness, and a whole boat of emotions. Joneal Joplin is a wise old Gonzalo, Jim Hopkins as King Alonzo is appropriately frantic on his search for his son, then joyful.
Royal Servants lost on another part of the island bring a lot of physical comedy. Sara Mackie (Trinculo) and Cary Davenport (Stephano) explore many layers of clowning–much to the audience’s delight.
Visuals in The Tempest
The Tempest is set on a vibrant tropical island, strewn with the flotsam and jetsam of the sea, inhabited by magical island sprites—and mosquitoes. It’s a place perfectly content without human meddling. The trash piled along the shoreline is a quiet reminder that humans haven’t exactly been the best caretakers of the earth. The items are sometimes props in the play, and the bright colors add to the island feel.
Kudos to the entire Design Team for their work and sustainability efforts*: Scenic Designer Samantha Reno, Costume Designer Rainy Edwards, Lighting Designer Andrew Hungerford, Sound Designer Christopher Guthrie and Projections Designer Robert Carlton Stimmel. There are so many layers to the design–and they work together well. We are surrounded by the sea, the island, and the buzz of mosquitos and music.
The lighting and music provide atmosphere and focus. Composer and Music Director Aleah Vassell has created an original underscore and guided all the musical minions. Darnell Pierre Benjamin guides the Q-Kids and cast with choreography. Gina Cerimele-Mechley as Intimacy and Fight Director ensures the clowns get up close and personal. Finally, huzzahs to the Stage Management team led by Cole Sweasy which keeps this multilevel cruise ship of a play running smoothly.
Overall
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s The Tempest is 100% worth the ticket price–and an ideal introduction to the magic of Shakespeare. It is accessible to people who do not know the story and has so much going on to keep even the younger audiences engaged. As they do so well, there are audience engagement opportunities as they make no pretense that this is a play and we are in the audience. Well done!
Get Tickets to The Tempest
Get your tickets to CSC’s The Tempest at the online box office HERE. This is “theatre in the round” so you could have the opportunity to sit on the stage, and maybe even have an actor or two interact with you during the show.
- Run Time: 2.5 hours, including one intermission
- Content advisory: Contains Shakespearean innuendo.
*PROGRAM NOTE: This production of The Tempest has a design with an eco-conscious objective: all costumes, props, and the entire set have been created with recycled and reused materials. The set will be recycled after the show, making The Tempest almost completely sustainable. Ms. Reno said “Cincy Shakes collaborated with the Cincinnati Recycle and Reuse Hub and members of the community, like our own patrons, to supply our team with the needed materials to bring magic to the stage!”
