The Ithaca Shakespeare Company is preparing to stage The Tempest in Upper Treman State Park. The open-air production promises an immersive experience, set amid natural scenery that mirrors the island world of Shakespeare’s late play.
Joining Arts in Depth to discuss the production were director Miranda Bianchi and Roger Gilbert, who plays the central role of Prospero.
When asked to comment on Prospero being portrayed as a father, a magician, and a philosopher, Gilbert said, "I would add that he’s a showman. He puts on a lot of shows within the show—starting with the tempest, of course—but then he stages all kinds of little plays.”
Gilbert noted that Prospero orchestrates scenes ranging from a romantic encounter between Miranda and Ferdinand to political power plays and even slapstick comedy. “In a sense, he is very much like a director,” Gilbert reflected. “But I would say he is the opposite temperamentally from our director, Miranda, because he’s very short-tempered… He can be very sadistic at times… At the same time, though, he’s capable of a lot of tenderness and love and ultimately, forgiveness.”
Gilbert added that while Prospero’s past mistakes—particularly his neglect of his ducal duties in favor of study—make him culpable, they also render him deeply human. “It’s hard for me to see it as a flaw, because I’m a scholar by temperament myself,” he admitted. “But he was much more interested in immersing himself in his books than in running the state, and that’s why it became so easy for his brother to steal it from him.”
Performing the play outdoors has influenced Gilbert’s approach to the role in surprising ways. “There’s a great speech in which Prospero addresses the elves of hills and brooks and standing lakes and groves,” he said. “And it’s so easy for me to just point around me to all of this magnificent natural scenery. We’re in a setting that could very well be the island itself.”
For Bianchi, the decision to direct The Tempest this season was both artistic and strategic. “We’re working on completing the canon,” she explained. “We’ve done The Tempest before, but we wanted to pull something back in that people know from where we dive back into some histories.”
Bianchi emphasized the play’s resonance with current issues. “There’s something about the way the different characters respond to the concept of strangeness and things that are unfamiliar,” she said. “The word ‘strange’ is in the play 29 times. Some characters encounter people they don’t know and immediately want to oppress or subjugate them. Others, like Miranda, see the opportunity in a new community.”
The production also explores the play’s layered structure. Of the situations that the characters experience Bianchi said. “All of them are just trying to find what their place is going to be… and viewing the island as a place of opportunity.”
Among the most striking character contrasts in The Tempest are the airy spirit Ariel and the earthy Caliban—figures sometimes seen as two sides of the same coin.
“Our Ariel, Claire Grotto, does this fabulous job with both her physicality and her singing,” said Bianchi. “Our Caliban is very earthy and grounded… But I think there’s also something about the relationship that Prospero has with each of them.”
Gilbert agreed. “The relationship to Ariel is much more affectionate,” he said. “Every now and then we have a little spat, but we make up quickly. Whereas Caliban has become extremely resentful… But at one time, we were very close—he was almost like my adopted son. That adds a pathos to their relationship.”
The show also features what Bianchi calls the “magic ensemble” or “fairy ensemble”—a tight-knit group that represents the spirit of the island. “They refer to themselves as ‘critters of note,’” she said. “These Fae have lived there for a long time. They don’t have lines, but they’ve created a presence through movement workshops, puppet work—and yes, there will be puppets.”
Sound is another key element. “All of our Fae have different shakers and little bells… and they’re doing a lot of singing. Caliban has that beautiful speech—‘The isle is full of noises’—and it certainly is.”
The Tempest will be performed at 6 p.m. each evening from July 17 through 20 and 23 through 27 at Upper Treman State Park, just outside Ithaca. For tickets and more information, visit ithacashakespeare.org.