Tempest Productions Flashcards
Sam Mendes 1993 production
• In response to Prospero’s affectionate words of farewell, Ariel spits in his face, evoking an audible gasp from the audience
Ron Daniel’s 1982 production
• Psychoanalytic interpretation, Ariel and Caliban presented as opposing aspects of Prospero’s psyche, similarly attempted by Gerald Freeman 1979 production
• Prospero wasn’t fully in control of himself, let alone the action of the play
Elizabeth Freestone 2023 production
• female Prospero, similar to Julie Taymor’s 2010 production
• takes place on a polluted island, environmentalist reading of humans exploiting natural resources of Earth
Peter Brook 1957 production
Set designed as gloomy caves, overgrown with tangles of foliage and creepers acting as a manifestation of Prospero’s inner world
David Thacker 1995 production
• Ariel’s costume consists of feathers and face paint of a Native American
• Prospero has a permanent presence on stage, seated at his desk with a large book open in front of him
Micheal Boyd 2002 production
• savagery lying beneath the surface of the courtier’s civilised manners burst out when they fall on the food at the magical banquet in Act 3 Scene 3 and devoured it like beasts
1667 Davenant and John Dryden interpretation
• adapted to appeal to upper class audiences by emphasising royalist political and social ideals, with monarchy as the natural form of government, patriarchal authority decisive in marriage
1667 Davenant and John Dryden interpretation
• adapted to appeal to upper class audiences by emphasising royalist political and social ideals, with monarchy as the natural form of government, patriarchal authority decisive in marriage
1667 Davenant and John Dryden interpretation women
production significant in establishing enhanced and additional roles for women:
• Miranda has a sister called Dorinda, Caliban has a sister called Sycorax, Prospero has a foster son called Hipolito who reveals actresses’ legs
Thomas Duffett’s 1675 production
Opened with what appeared to be a tempest, descending into a brothel
Interpretations of Caliban early 18th century
Caliban was mostly a comedic role played by actors ‘known for their awkward figures’
William Charles Macready’s 1838 production
• transformed Caliban’s comedic role
• described by critic Patrick MacDonnell as ‘maintaining in his mind, a strong resistance to that tyranny, which held him in the thraldom of slavery’
Margaret Webster 1945 production 1945
• female prospero
• established tradition of black actors playing the role of Caliban across from a white Prospero
Peter brooks 1968 version
• an enormous woman with the ability to expand her face to larger proportions gives ‘birth’ to Caliban on stage, who emerges from between her legs with a black sweater over his head, born evil
Jonathan Miller’s 1998 production
• used white actors as humans and black actors portraying the spirits and creatures of the island
• critic Micheal Billington: ‘Prospero became a white overlord manipulating a mutinous black Caliban’
• Ariel at the end, presented as a higher up slave than Caliban in play, gathers Prospero’s staff and puts it back together
Giorgio Strehler’s Brecht inspired production 1978
Prospero at the centre of the play’s opening storm, orchestrating the visual effects of the storm around him
Phyllida Lloyd’s 2018 (Donmar Warehouse) production
• set in a prison
• harpy scene - Ariel is a judge, reflecting on the corruption of legal system?
• Caliban collects plastic waste and bags, having to clean up human exploitation of the isle
• female cast, matriarchy
• banquet in harpy scene consists of material desired e.g fast cars
Ariel’s exit Elizabeth Freestone 2023 production
Ariel breaks free from the theatre, dust falls from ceiling, symbolic of Prospero’s frailty as he is only made of blood and bones as in the funeral rites ‘ashes to ashes, dust to dust’ - no longer has art to protect him
London Olympics 2012
Opening ceremonies artistic director Boyle came up with the theme “Isles of Wonder” after gaining inspiration from Caliban’s speech in The Tempest which opens with the line: “Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises.”
