Students Experience the "Tempest"

On February 27, 1995, Mrs. McCarville, Mrs. McConnell, and thirty-five juniors and seniors journeyed to Mount Marty College in Yankton, South Dakota, to experience "The Tempest "by William Shakespeare, produced by The National Players, America's longest running classical touring company.

"The Tempest" is a dramatic fantasy, with romance, poetry, and comedy. It is a tale of a shipwreck on an island inhabited by Prospero, his daughter Miranda, and his deformed slave Caliban, and a spirit named Ariel. Prospero was the Duke of Milan, but was wrongfully exiled by his enemies, who are on the shipwreck that Prospero causes with the magic he has mastered during his exile. Miranda and Ferdinand, the son of the King of Naples, fall in love. Caliban and Ariel relieve freedom with Prospero forgives his old enemies, returns to Milan, and is reinstated as Duke.

The production was a shortened from the one of Shakespeare's last plays. The National Players performed "The Tempest" with good acting and no microphones. The actors were aided in their portrayal of Shakespeare's characters by the music, which was appropriately lyrical; song; and dance in the play. The set was unusual due to its abstract design. It served both as a ship at sea and as various parts of the island.

Overall, The National Player's performance of "The Tempest" was very good, especially since they are a touring group and must adapt their production to fit varied venues.

St. Mary's students peruse their programs before Curtain Time.