Review: TEMPEST REDUX Visually Stuns
TEMPEST REDUX/by Shakespeare/ adapted, directed & choreographed by John Farmanesh-Bocca/Odyssey Theatre/thru April 10, 2016
TEMPEST REDUX's certainly an welcomed addition to John Farmanesh-Bocca's resume of his visceral, modern re-workings of Shakespeare classics. Pre-show, the cast, one-by-one, enters slo-mo to their opening spot on stage settling into classic yoga lotus poses. Farmanesh-Bocca has inventively staged the opening shipwreck with timed, choreographed chaos, all via the synchronized full-body rollings of the actors, the bobbing of the toy ship in Prospero's hand, and the crashing waves from sound designer Adam Phalen (co-designed with Farmanesh-Bocca). Farmanesh-Bocca's trademark physicality shines in the inspired pairing of Dash Pepin and Willem Long, both portraying Prospero's slave Caliban in tandem. Their heightened primal antics, acrobatic lifts, leap-frogging and finishing each other's sentences command the stage.
Farmanesh-Bocca cast Prospero's fairy servant Ariel in the lyrical threesome chorus of Shea Donovan, Briana Price, and Emily Yetter, all lip-syncing Brenda Strong's Ariel voiceover.
Many of the male ensemble perform dual roles. Both Dennis Gersten and Gildart Jackson grab their moments to shine in their feisty survivor roles of the shipwrecked cook and butler.
Jack Stehlin fully commits to his Prospero, the center/instigator of all this pandemonium. Stehlin gets his ultimate moment in the spotlight with his maniacal ravings near the play's end.
Mimi Davila and Charles Hunter Paul essay the flirtatious, but bland young lovers Miranda and Ferdinand.
Video designer Thomas Marchese's various projections (including the initial ethereal blue backdrop) greatly complement scenic designer Christopher Murillo's versatile open-wide set morphing from wrecked ship to an island's rocky beach. Costumer Denise Blasor scores with her tattered tuxedo shirts and pants on the shipwreck survivors, while outfitting the Ariels in subtly sparkling sprite bodysuits.
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