Energy and excitement were in abundance Monday night as the 74th season of the Stratford Festival officially got underway.
A red carpet beckoned well-dressed guests to the Festival Theatre and elation poured inside for a performance of The Tempest.
Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino, in his final year steering the ship, his 39th season with the festival, has said the play examines humanity’s shortcomings and its beauty, deeming it a great text for him to direct.
Geraint Wyn Davies lends his talents to the lead role of Prospero, a deposed duke on an island using magic to control his betrayers.
“The magic was really there on stage,” a theatregoer told MyStratfordNow.
Actors maneuvered stunning props that were front and centre including a ship navigating stormy seas, its sale whipping around, with an accompanying ‘thunderous’ backdrop to heighten the audience experience.
Contrasting that further in to the production was the introduction of enchanting, lit-up jelly fish that floated around the stage.
Marissa Orjalo as Ariel, a spirt and servant to Prospero, floated her body around the space effortlessly and kept the audience laughing with her sharp wit and magical presence. Jonathan Goad, on the other hand, bounced and bruised his way with his castmates into some rollicking, sexualized, drunken shenanigans as Caliban.
A tale of love and forgiveness, Prospero evolves before our eyes, finding understanding and compassion for his daughter Miranda’s own passions, namely the energetic Ferdinand. Both roles were beautifully played by Ashley Dingwell and Dakota Jamal Wellman, respectively.
Prospero’s acceptance did have a limit, though, we learn, when he declares to the couple…”No tongue!”
It tugged at the heartstrings to see the physical embrace between Prospero and ‘the brother that betrayed him’, Antonio, played by Gordon S. Miller. It was a scene that at once announced Prospero’s reconciliation and cemented Davies’ status as a leading man.
The Tempest runs until Oct. 24.
News Director Paul Cluff is sharing observations on opening week performances at the Stratford Festival.
