'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.
