a Tempest in Lakewood

Well, last night i again saw another fine performance of The Tempest by Cleveland Shakespeare Festival. I have several Shakespeare plays that i really appreciate.  I brought a small camera that can easily reside in a shirt pocket. Of course its optics are limited. The show was rescheduled on fear of inclement weather (irony there). It was sunny, very warm, and humid outside and in; but it was wet when the decision was made to change venue.

I did not know what i wanted to photograph. During the action, i began to concentrate on the faces of the actors when they were not speaking. As they were still, and the camera was not inclined to stop motion, i should have decided earlier on portraits. Being inside a Masonic building (i was disappointed in not seeing the secret rooms), and they playing before the stage, i was much closer to the actors. Facing the actors, those on the left were close enough for a good exposure, until the outside light declined.

It is interesting, to see the faces while they are waiting and watching. At times it was evident they enjoyed their comrades' acting. An acting troupe is a type of ad hoc fraternity, and it must be better to be with a circle of friends, and not adversaries.

Prospero holding his spell looking like Moses as he held the waters back for the Hebrews, and allowing to rush forward on Faro's army.

 Miranda is awake as the shipboard folk are frozen.

 The poses of those thinking they be drowned, Stephano (left) seems to swim.

Caliban the Monster, but not at all that misshapen, recites my second favorite line in the play, "You taught me language: and my profit on’t is, I know how to curse: the red plague rid you, for learning me your language!" This reminds me of the song, Indian Reservation, sung by Paul Revere and the Raiders, "...Took away our native tongue and taught their English to our young...". Different interpretations, that thought fits with European imperialism and hegemony over native people; but Shakespeare entertained many lines of thought in the same play. He may have been familiar with Bartolomé de las Casas.

 Ariel

 Caliban

 King of Naples

The bubbles, i was informed by the actor playing Gonzalo, were of glycerin. This rough magic of theatre created persistent bubbles which lasted to beyond the end of the play.