The Tempest

'The Tempest' is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays. It contains one of his most imaginative settings, which can be truly wondrous with the right budget and in terms of character dynamics and genre it is unique. Again, Shakespeare's mastery of text is evident throughout with many memorable, iconic in some cases, lines, speeches and scenes. And the characters are not easy to forget, with the play boasting two of for me Shakespeare's greatest characters in Prospero and Caliban.

One of the biggest interest points in seeing Stratford's 2010 production was to see Christopher Plummer as Prospero, and also to see whether a more forgiving and less angry Prospero would work. This production was a dream and of a healthy if uneven competition available it is one of the best. It is a shame though that it is so under-valued and most likely not very well known, as it was done in the same year the Helen Mirren film was released and despite enjoying that production more than most actually this is the far superior performance (as well as more faithful and tasteful).

It is a beautifully designed production. The settings have a sense of wonder and the lighting has a striking mysteriousness that balance perfectly. As is the case with all the Stratford filmed productions, the filming is intimate which has a making one feel they're there feel while opening up the drama enough to avoid being static without being overblown. The music has mysterious eeriness but enchanting beauty as well, perfectly fitting the many complex moods of the play and any gear changes are seamless rather than a hodge-podge.

No problems can be found with Shakespeare's writing, much of it is out of this world and the best quotes are some of his most iconic. Text that is delivered beautifully and adapted with faithfulness and no issue with coherence. Very interesting character dynamics, especially between Prospero and Miranda. Much of the staging is absorbing and always cohesive and in good taste.

Best thing about this performance of 'The Tempest' is Plummer, who is absolutely marvellous in noble, subtly menacing and moving form. The renouncing of his powers is especially poignant. The standouts in the cast are Dion Johnstone's Caliban (making the character both repulsive and pitiful) and Trish Lindstrom's Miranda, liked the lighter quality she gives to the role. Julyana Soelistyo has fun as Ariel and it was great to see genuinely hilarious interpretations of Triniculo and Stephano, characters that are easy to overplay and make too clownish (a big trap for Shakespeare's comedic characters in general).

My only reservation was that the different concept for Prospero doesn't always come off, am not blaming Plummer at all but more the concept. Underplaying the bullying aspect of the character sometimes compromised the intensity and meant that Prospero's growth felt too quick.

Everything else however is so brilliantly done and done better than most productions available of 'The Tempest' that it would feel wrong and too harsh to mark it down massively for that. Excellent production overall to be seen mainly for Plummer. 9/10.

Helen Mirren's excellent version of The Tempest was released in 2010. That was unfortunate. It eclipsed this more beautiful production of The Tempest, by the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, with Christopher Plummer as Prospero.

Mirren's version of The Tempest is a pure movie, with lots of whirling landscapes, maybe too much landscape. Christopher Plummer's version combines two live, stage performances in diorama before audiences the size of landscapes.

Shakespeare's last play has been distorted and bungled with literary and social theories for decades. Postcolonial theorists have tried to portray The Tempest as a meditation on colonial exploitation. That's nonsense and most scholars now agree with me. If you want to make a play to fit into your pet theory, you can do it. It just won't be the play any longer.

"How about this?" the director and producer may have asked. "We put all that literary theory in a sack by the dumpster out back and just film a truly great version of The Tempest."

So they made this 2010 version of The Tempest, the best of countless performances I've seen, certainly better than the excellent BBC version or others available online.

It's the best version now available, in my opinion, because the acting, stagecraft, set design, direction, and intentions are the best.

A hilarious, kind, beautiful, masterpiece that will bring tears to your eyes. Plummer is funny, warm, clever, eloquent, and witty. Trish Lindström, as Miranda, is strong willed and loving, perfectly cast. Ariel as portrayed by Julyana Soelistyo is the best of all Ariels, strange but not off-putting or weird. Caliban is true to Shakespeare's description, not a "symbol of oppression," but as the half-fish son of the cruel witch exiled from Algiers, Sycorax. This perfect-timing Trinculo is a rib-tickling, laugh-out-loud, guilelessly drunken, bewitched wanderer.

In this production, all the characters are more vulnerable than angry. That fits a play concerned with renouncing power and embracing love and forgiveness.

This Tempest is a laugh riot that will also make you cry with joy. It's a piece of wisdom-teaching that will bathe you in beautiful words, colors, and sounds. At the end you'll probably be clapping with rest of the gigantic audience. Maybe shed a tear or two in joy.

I saw it as precious gift for the admirers of this last play by William Shakespeare , fascinating in special manner , for values reminded, for gallery of characters- lovely Ariel, inspired Caliban- , for precise definition of parenthood, revenge , vulnerability and use of magic.

Christopher Plummer is an impressive Prospero because he is, no doubts, the true Prospero. This version, in essence, is defined exactly by this virtue, to remind, out of theories, interpretations, formulas , the play discovered by viewer first time.

Beautiful Miranda, inspired Caliban , fascinating Ariel.

And the honest way to tell the story who you know, in simple, fair, wise manner , feeling it as your story, the one out of desire to seduce, impress , the story of a venerable man and his daughter, the spirits serving him and the crafted revenge after 12 years of forced exile.

The precious gift - what you feel at the final who escapes to each posible definition , being only source of grateful emotion.

Christopher Plummer produced and acted as Prospero, the former duke, on an island somewhere with his angel spirit, Blue Ariel, and his strange friend Caliban. This is a stage production at the Stratford Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. The actors and actresses are well versed in Shakespeare. Ariel is a welcome delight. Her blue costume and makeup captures your attention. I have never seen an actual stage production of this particular play but I don't care to see it. It's not one of my favorite Shakespeare comedies. Believe it or not, this is a comedy by Shakespeare standards. I have never been fan of his works but I had to study them as requirement. Christopher Plummer is a Shakespearan veteran actor. Shakespeare is highest form of drama on stage. Not everybody can do Shakespeare but Plummer can do it with passion and drive. He is like other Shakespeare veterans here. Not everybody can do it or maybe want too. If you want to see a Tempest production on stage, this version is sufficient.

The first thing you will notice is that you can hear every word and very clearly. If you pull out the book you will notice that this may be an adaptation but it closely follows the written play. Pay attention to the epilog. You will be spell stopped.

In case you missed this story: Prospero, once the Duke of Milan and sorcerer now reigns over a faraway island, living there with his daughter, Miranda. After 12 years of being abandoned, he has an opportunity for revenge. However, the ships may bring more than he planned on.

Shakespeare, Stratford, Christopher Plummer will stand as a favorite.

I have various versions of the play and the obscure Prospero's Books (1991), even Planète interdite (1956) of which some people think it is based on the play.