“Love...is an ever fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken...” (Sonnet 116)

Shakespeare’s romance The Tempest portrayed a fantastical island where justice and forgiveness played out amidst the workings of magic, betrayal, and love. The beginning of the play found the sorcerer Prospero (Alex McCune), the rightful Duke of Milan, marooned with his daughter Miranda (Theresa Wilson) after being set adrift twelve years earlier by the duke’s ambitious brother. Shortly afterwards Prospero’s enemies were scattered on the island during a furious gale raised by the magician. Prospero’s spirit-servant Ariel (Sally Beresford) gracefully flitted about the stage, luring characters into her master’s plan. His other servant, the hideous monster Caliban (Jonathan Quist), burst into the scenes with furious rage. Justice and forgiveness triumphed in the end when Prospero’s enemies fell in his power, and the magician finally relinquished his arts.

    Prospero and the Fairies

The darkness of the island was contrasted by gentle love of Miranda and Ferdinand (Joseph Jalsevac) and the comic antics of two drunken sailors. In a burst of rainbow color, a crowd of island spirits and classical goddesses lit up the darkness of the storm-cast isle. Wearing silk fabrics hand-dyed by our students, the nymphs danced at Prospero’s command in a feast of color. Brilliantly-pattered make-up and skillfully-styled hair added to every scene. The original music score was accompanied by the mysterious music of flutes, the hum of island sounds, the steady swell of hand drums, and other sweet melodies.

Thank you to Mrs. Jenny Hayden Baklsinki for her expert direction bringing Shakespeare’s poetry to life. Many thanks to all the actors and supporting actors: Alex McCune, Sally Beresford, Joseph Jalsevac, Jonathan Quist, Theresa Wilson, Margaret Campbell, Jeannie Goeckner, Gregg Gassman, Julian Zakrzewski, Benedict Baklinski, John Espadero, Cyprian Zakrzewski, Michael Hayden, Adelina Mazzarolo, Maria McDonald, Sharon-Rose Milan, Laura Compeau, Elizabeth Enright, Lisa Holdsworth, Hannah Corkery, Theresa Casta, Breann Landry, and Rene Holt. 
 

Finally, thank you to the costume design and sewing crew, the set construction and stage hands, the lighting and sound technicians, the driving and publicity volunteers, the refreshments donors and servers, and all those other “unsung heroes” who made the play a great success.

Juno (Maria McDonald), Ceres (Sharon-Rose Milan) with Miranda and the Fairies

 The final scene.