McCarter Theatre stages Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest.’
By: Stuart Duncan
The pre-opening publicity was fierce and intriguing. Blair Brown, an actress of considerable note and accomplishments, was going to play the role of Prospero in McCarter’s revival of Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
The name of the character would be changed, ending in "ra" rather than "ro," thereby reflecting a gender shift. "He’s" in the script would become "she’s"; father/daughter would necessarily change to mother/daughter. Articles appeared suggesting "what a difference a vowel makes." Even the Small World Coffee Company got in on the act, labeling a mixture "Prospera’s Blend," having it poured exclusively at the refreshment counter and sold at the gift shop.
And so it is with considerable satisfaction that one can report that all the hoopla makes very little difference. Ms. Brown’s performance is strong, compelling, brings very little new insight to the comedy and isn’t really the focal point of the most enjoyable evening.
The real excitement of this Tempest lies with the entire company of 11 actors. A handsome Ferdinand in Lorenzo Pisoni, a charming Miranda in Rachel Matthews Black; a pair of inspired comedians in Cameron Folmar (as Trinculo) and John Keating (as a most memorable Stephano); a fine Caliban in Ian Kahn, deftly balancing the beast and the boy in the role; a pair of feisty villains in Ezra Knight, as Sebastian, and John Feltch, as Antonio; a loyal and faithful Gonzalo (Yusef Bulos), a regal but displaced queen (Alonsa) in Caroline Stefanie Clay. And, above all, Julyana Soelistyo as an Ariel to be savored and long remembered.
The real star of the evening is Emily Mann, who has directed with such obvious love of language and character, such compelling balance to the delicate, multiple threads of the tale and such ingenuity that we never miss the customary hubble bubble of an on-stage shipwreck, nor question set designer Richard Hoover’s neo-modern enclosure of circles and squares, but instead embrace them.
The Tempest is, of course, Shakespeare’s final play, and one can sense that as we smile our way into Act V. Ariel’s wistful speech about the forlorn courtiers ("that were I human"), followed by Prospera’s stately "Our revels now are ended… we are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep."
Touching, passionate, stunning no matter what the gender.
The Tempest continues at McCarter Theatre, 91 University Place, Princeton, through March 2. Performances: Wed.-Fri. 8 p.m.; Sat. 4, 8:30 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m.; Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $24-$47. For information, call (609) 258-2787. On the Web: www.mccarter.org

