Oh my god. Do not watch that trailer stoned.

This play was also the basis for the plot of the great 1956 sci-fi gem “Forbidden Planet” starring Leslie Nielsen. Same story in a 24th century futuristic context.

I first experienced Julie Taymor’s Tempest via Penn & Teller’s “Behind the Scenes” when I was five or six. I was immediately taken by Taymor’s use of puppetry and stage magic to produce “real” magic. Since then, I have followed her work intensely, from her work at the A.R.T’s “King Stag” to “Lion King”. it is important to note that Wheelock Family Theatre created The Tempest in 1999, Boston actress Jane Staab played Prospera. ( I was lucky enough to play one of the Ariels). What I find wonderful is that while watching the trailer for the new “Tempest”, it is so exciting to see the elements of her 1986 production that she has been able to keep in the film, Prospera drawing the circle in the sand, etc.

Taymor is a visionary, and one of the theatre greats of our time. Whether it be film, theatre or live performance art, she captures relevance, excitement and a belief in the fourth wall and the creation of the real.

I should also say that for any production to capture the imagination and fascination of a 5 year old, the creation of relevance is extraordinary. Watching the clips of the production, coupled with Taymor’s interviews on the PBS show, began a life-long love of both Shakespeare and theatre for me.

Boston, MA

Did “The Tempest” have anything to do with the colony at Jamestown? (I think that the Tempest was written about 1610-11, according to Wikipedia; SO, there would have been no African slaves in Jamestown, yet; but the British knew of the Native Americans. The ending of Shakespeare in Love is what causes me to ask this question, plus something else I may once have heard — I know SO little about Shakespeare!)

Thanks

Some years ago I was privileged to see the The Tempest performed at the University of North Carolina, hHapel Hill, with my niece in the lead. I am still pleasantly haunted by her capable hands roiling the waters. She is now an OBGYN surgeon.

I was embarrassed to be cornered by one of her male professors very wound up that Prospero CAN’T be played by a woman.

My niece’s superb performance is a permanent profound touchstone for me!

I am completely captivated by the trailer and I cannot wait to see the movie! Oddly, The Tempest was one of the most widely read works of Shakespeare when I was an English major at the University of Pittsburgh. I read it in 4 separate classes and never tired of it (I even CHOSE to teach it to my high school sophomore students). What an incredible interpretation and I’m certain Helen Mirren is captivating!

Betsy Cherepko
Watertown, NY

Geffe and Pete H.,

Thank you both so much! I’ll check out all your great leads!

I was such a slow reader in high school in NJ (and still am), that I indulged in RE-reading Midsummer Night’s Dream every time we had a choice in Shakespearean works to read. We did have a classmate whose father was a Broadway actor and who would become an actor himself. Several of our teachers were smart enough to make sure that Eric read Shakespeare out loud to us — significant readings — and during those times, I really got the meaning, the tone, the extraordinary imagination of the “Bard”. I also got to see the Peter Brooks’ Midsummer Nights Dream (with acrobatics, etc.), a theatrical version, not a movie, maybe in the early 1970′s. I wanted to see it because of the “visuals”, but was convinced beforehand that I would not understand a word, especially because it was a British production — i.e., English accents (I often think I need sub-titles on some of the Masterpiece Theater pieces!)! Yet, the performance was crystal clear in its impact! I once read a latter-day critic retrospectively criticize that version because of the “circus” style, but that version was the first time (in spite of my own, multiple readings in high school) that I understood so many of the various themes, relationships between characters, etc.!

Bye for now, I have to get other stuff done today! Thanks again!