Film: The Tempest

December 10th cannot come soon enough.  It's the day that the movie of The Tempest will be released in theatres (maybe sooner in New York City!).

I absolutely LOVE The Tempest.  It was the first Shakespeare I ever saw - it was at the Globe Theatre on the campus of Odessa College, in Odessa, Texas.  It was an field trip for our 8th grade Kaleidoscope class and I have never forgotten the experience - especially when Caliban jumped into the audience and practically in my lap.   

I have been anticipating this movie since I heard Helen Mirren discuss it at Times Talks.    She said that she and Julie said to each other that they should do The Tempest together - Helen thought it would be on the stage but time passed and she sort of forgot about it.  Julie called her one day and said it was happening and she was surprised to learn that it was film. 

The fabulous cast is Helen Mirren as Prospera (gender reassigning of this character is fine with me), Russell Brand as Trinculo, Alfred Molina as Stephano, Djimon Hounsou as Caliban, David Strathairn as Alonso, Chris Cooper as Antonio, Alan Cumming as Sebastian, Ben Whishaw as Ariel, Reeve Carney as Ferdinand, Felicity Jones as Miranda and Tom Conti as Gonzalo.   Julie Taymor adapted the Bard's final play by writing the screenplay and is directing as well. 


 

Tonight: Mandy Patinkin is Prospero in The Tempest at CSC!

I'm so excited about seeing The Tempest at Classic Stage Company tonight! And it's my first time to see Mandy Patinkin in a play too! Also starring are Craig Baldwin, Yusef Bulos, Angel Desai, Karl Kenzler, Nana Mensah, Nyambi Nyambi, Bhavesh Patel, Michael Potts, Steve Rattazzi, Stark Sands, Tony Torn and Elizabeth Waterston. Brian Kulick directs.

The first play I saw outside of my hometown was The Tempest at the Globe Theatre on the campus of Odessa College in West Texas. It was my first Shakespeare and I was twelve years old. I can still see the actors running around us and through the aisles - especially Calaban. I can't wait to relive it tonight.

Update: I loved it. Mandy Patinkin showed us his understated side even in the intense moments. Some of the text was set to music so we were treated to Angel Desai's voice and violin and Mandy sang too. Angel Desai as Ariel was was the perfect spirit. Stark Sands as Ferdinand and Elizabeth Waterston as Miranda made a beautiful couple. Tony Torn as Trinculo and Steven Rattazzi as Stefano were hysterical. It was a simple and gentle production in the perfect intimate setting. Opening night is September 18th and runs until October 12th. Warning, when you go, dress for winter - the theatre was freezing.

I couldn't help myself when Deanna Dunagan shouted out for the Odessa Globe Theatre

At Tuesday's Theatre World Awards, Deanna Dunagan talked about her picture being published in the 1974 Theatre World Book for a production of a Shakespeare play that she did at the Globe Theatre on the campus of Odessa College in West Texas. I may be one of the few people outside of West Texas who knows about the Globe. It's an authentic replica of the real Globe Theatre that was built in London in 1598. In 1948, the Odessa High School Shakespeare Club decided that they needed their own Globe and so it was born. It's officially known as The Globe Theatre of the Great Southwest and productions finally began twenty years later in 1968. I saw my first Shakespeare there when I was twelve years old. It was The Tempest and it was absolutely wonderful. I can still see the actors running around us and through the aisles. So when Deanna shouted out the Globe, I simply couldn't help myself. I was the only dope who applauded in the house. It was involuntary of course! The word "Odessa" isn't said very often in this part of the world unless you're in Brighton Beach and it's a reference to the Odessa in Russia. But, Deanna laughed, "Oh you know it!" You bet I do.