THEATER: “THE TEMPEST”

From the minute you enter the American Repertory Theater mainstage in Cambridge, MA. there’s a tingle in the air, like the one that Shakespeare’s Prospero must have felt when years before, exiled by his usurping brother, he and his infant daughter Miranda washed up shipwrecked on the shores of a magical island. This production of Shakespeare’s mystical THE TEMPEST by way of the Smith Center for the performing arts in Nevada, involves a spellbinding amalgamation of talents directed by Aaron Posner and world famous magician Teller, of Penn & Teller fame.

As we take our seats, we see before us a marvelous towering timbered set, carnival lights atop an old wrecked vessel, when suddenly a pale sprite at the edge of the stage begins to move, pitching cards at the audience. This is Ariel, the embodiment of Prospero’s magic, and before the evening is over, he will perform before our very eyes, extraordinary sleight of hand, and we will have tangible evidence of the intangible powers Shakespeare unleashes in his mysterious romance.

The tale involves tempests within tempests, beginning with a storm, and then another –washing Prospero’s enemies ashore. Now they are at the mercy of Prospero’s swirling powers; he seeks revenge, but there’s magic in his method. Much like Hamlet who at first mounts “a play” wherein (he’ll) catch the conscience of the king,” Prospero doesn’t plot a bloody revenge– instead he conjures scenarios and illusions to scare them out of their wits– and into the truth.

I gasped at the illusions, floating bodies, and disappearing cards; was repelled and attracted by Prospero’s slave– the hideous hairy Caliban– here enacted by a pair of actors, diabolically intertwined by the choreography of modern dance company Pilobolus. The live orchestra “Rough Magic” plays the eerie, bluesy ballads of Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan.  There’s something of the freak show in the air– Tom Nelis’s Prospero physically recalls the real life WILLARD THE WIZARD a lanky, bearded, turn of the century traveling trickster.

Though Nelis and company as actors are not as compelling as the magical effects they serve, the spell is cast. And stepping back we see the ultimate conjurer Shakespeare’s deep magic at work. As the creator of scenarios that transform and illuminate, Shakespeare and his tempest of marvels, here made flesh by some of the best enchanters of our time– somehow remain utterly, mesmerizingly mysterious.  This production has whipped up a timeless tempest of revenge, redemption, romance, framed by the bittersweet journey of a daughter’s coming of age and the father who must finally let her go. DO NOT MISS this at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge Mass. Through June 15!