Scholars don’t know when exactly or in what order Shakespeare wrote his plays. It is generally accepted that the last play he wrote by himself was The Tempest. That’s for the simple reason that many readers like to imagine that Shakespeare speaks to the audience himself through the character of Prospero, the wizard who’s skills allow him to basically control the plot of the whole story by himself. Prospero speaks an epilogue many readers have mentally decided is Shakespeare’s farewell to the stage as he heads off to retirement.
Scholars now believe Shakespeare wrote two more plays, at least, after The Tempest with his successor John Fletcher, but it is a nice thought to have that Shakespeare wrote a goodbye to the audience into his last great play.
Notable cast members: Michael Hordern, an actor with a resume as long as my arm, gets top billing as Prospero, the only actor listed in the opening credits. I suspect I’ve seen him in other things but couldn’t guess where. Caliban is played by one Warren Clarke, best known as one of Alex’s droogs, Dim, in Clockwork Orange. Drunken butler Trinculo is played by Andrew Scahs, best known as Manuel on Fawlty Towers.
Trivia: This one is probably the only play Shakespeare wrote that follows the concept of “the unities,” namely the idea that the amount of time it takes to watch the play is the same amount of time that passes in the play. It’s also nearly unclassifiable as a genre. Most late plays in Shakespeare’s cannon are classified as “romances” due to the fact they don’t seem to fit anything else. That said, the romantic couple here of Ferdinand and Miranda are played by Christopher and Pippa Guard. They are cousins.
The play: I haven’t actually ranked Shakespeare’s plays, aside from saying King Lear is my favorite and Winter’s Tale of all plays is my second. But somehow I suspect The Tempest would be a third. It’s just such a pleasant play, one where the charismatic Prospero has a chance for revenge, and while some of his actions in the first act are a bit questionable, he does clearly come across as a good man. The onetime Duke of Milan was so into his studies of magic, he didn’t notice he was deposed by his own brother with aid from the King of Naples until it was too late. Now, as the King and his party return from a wedding, sailing close to Prospero’s island, Prospero, master of the mystic arts, has the chance to avenge himself. Will he?
And therein lies the real drama. With help from Ariel, a spirit compelled to assist Prospero until such time as Prospero grants Ariel freedom, there really is no one who can stop Prospero. His other servant Caliban is bitter and knows things, but he throws his lot in with a pair of drunken servants who introduce the monster-man to alcohol and all its wonders. The various other people are easily enchanted and don’t stand a chance. Prospero manages to make King Alonso feel guilty for his actions, but his brother Antonio is unrepentant to the end. Likewise, wise old man Gonzalo evokes guilt in Prospero that the one man who helped Prospero and Miranda escape the coup has to suffer along with the others. Ultimately, Prospero chooses forgiveness to everyone, giving up his arts to take his old position back and ensure his daughter marries Alonso’s son Ferdinand. Good thing the two fell in love up until then.
It looks like the BBC went all out on this one as much as they could on whatever budget they had. Much of the special effects came from shows like Doctor Who. Caliban’s make-up, mostly a lot of body hair, is actually rather impressive. Ariel is male here (Shakespeare doesn’t specify a gender, and I’ve seen men and women play the part without a problem), and, well, he isn’t wearing much, nor are many of Prospero’s other male spirit servants. Wanna see a bunch of guys wearing dental floss up their butts prance around? This is the production for you!
In all seriousness, I really dug Horndern’s Prospero. He had a grace and dignity to him that’s pretty much a requirement for the role. He never comes across as evil, even when he’s enforcing his will on both Ariel and Caliban. He takes his time to settle his business with everyone, rewarding everyone with their freedom by the end of the play. Ariel is free, Caliban gets the island, and all the other characters return to Italy where Miranda and Ferdinand can marry, and Prospero can be a Duke again, this time knowing to keep an eye on his treacherous brother. Prospero may forgive, but that doesn’t mean he’ll forget any time soon.
Really, this one pulled out all the stops. Maybe the title storm didn’t seem that bad, but given most of the story is set on a desolate stretch of beach and barren rock, the whole thing really worked.
Grade: Oh, this one is easy. A.
Next: The BBC opted to end their second season of this series with what is probably if not the best known of Shakespeare’s work and his masterpiece, but perhaps the best-written play in the English language. That’s right. Next time, we have Hamlet.
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