There is nothing so magical and poetic as the work of William Shakespeare. When I thinks of The Tempest, I find that play to be the most fantastical of all of Shakespeare’s works. A deposed castaway, Prospero (Ron Cephas Jones) and his daughter Miranda arrive at an island filled with magical deviants such as Ariel and Caliban. That, paired with iambic pentameter and Shakespeare’s dry wit, and you have a formula for something that is out of this world.
What if I were to tell you that it could be turned up a few more notches? The Classical Theatre of Harlem, in partnership with SummerStage, is presenting this work through their Under the Stars series. This annual and FREE summer production is being directed by Carl Cofield. I believe that this production will bring an element to The Tempest that you may not think is missing — people of color. To some this may be a no brainer, but Cofield is setting his production in Hispaniola; the island that is home to both Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The space for this project is outdoors at the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater in Marcus Garvey Park. The Tempest, with its melange of romance, villains, comedy and music, lends itself well to be performed underneath a starry night sky.
Cofield says, “Prospero’s magical island could be anywhere. Our production references the enchanting island of Hispaniola, the island that is home to both the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The history of Haiti is nothing short of magical. This tiny Caribbean country won its independence by defeating three European superpowers: France, Britain and Spain, demonstrating the same fighting spirit found in Caliban, and the same longing for freedom as Ariel. The Tempest highlights the dynamics of freedom and captivity, imprisonment and rebellion, authority and tyranny. My hope is that after spending time with these characters, we learn something about ourselves.”
To find out more about this theatre that is bringing free art to the public, you can follow the Classic Theatre of Harlem on Twitter or like their Facebook page The production will run from July 3 through July 26 at the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater in Marcus Garvey Park. 18 Mt. Morris Park West, New York, NY. For more information about the show or ticket information visit www.cthnyc.org
