When Shakespeare's “The Tempest” is performed on the stage of the Auburn Public Theater, audiences will witness why the comedy is considered one of the Bard's best plays.
Jennifer Meyers / The Citizen
STORM BREWING
STORM BREWING
The fantastic tale focuses on Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, and his daughter, Miranda. Exiled to an island, Prospero learns that the man who thieved his throne, his brother Antonio, will be traveling on nearby seas accompanied by the coup's conspirators.
Prospero, a powerful sorcerer, plans to conjure the storm of the play's title to shipwreck his usurpers and lure them to the island, where his revenge unfolds with humor and romance.
Directing the Auburn Players in the performance is Jamie Bruno, who will occupy the chair for the first time in his theatrical career. Although he says so with some uncertainty, Bruno believes his production of the play may be the first ever performed in Auburn.
“It's something that is recognizable but also new to the community,” Bruno said.
Because they are likely the first to stage “The Tempest” for local audiences, Bruno and his cast will not attempt to reinterpret the play from the basic structure crafted by Shakespeare.
“We'll be concentrating on the acting in the intimate space of the Auburn Public Theater,” Bruno said. “We'll try to make everything as realistic and naturalistic as possible.”
The actors will be anything but bored realizing their roles in “The Tempest.” The 18-member cast can only claim one veteran of Shakespeare's last solitarily written play in Colin Sullivan, who performed as Caliban in a high school production.
In the role of Prospero is Auburn Player Tony Bersani, who will add the sorcerer to a long list of past Shakespearean parts that includes Lago in “Othello” and Bassanio in “The Merchant of Venice.”
“It's a character that encompasses all aspects of humanity. He's noble, kind and loving, but also vengeful,” Bersani said.
Bersani believes Prospero's character reflects the emotional content of “The Tempest,” which invites audiences to peer into a world ruled by a wide range of emotions.
“It's every aspect of the human condition all rolled into one play,” he said. “But it's not a heavy piece; it's a light play that has undercurrents of reality.”
While the substance of the play engages audiences emotionally, Bruno expects Shakespeare's brilliant writing to shine on the surface.
“The quality of poetry (in ‘The Tempest') is as good as anything he ever wrote and the humor he brings to the play is unsurpassed, some moments in this play are just hilarious,” Bruno said.
Bruno takes the reins of “The Tempest” with a resume of both the production and performance sides of local theater. He has acted with Syracuse Shakespeare Festival for two years, and last summer he served as assistant director on another Shakespeare classic, “The Taming of the Shrew,” in Thornden Park.
But Bruno has approached his director duties on “The Tempest” with no abundance of self-assurance.
“I've been very nervous,” Bruno said with some amusement. “It's been a real chore to fall asleep at night.”
Staff writer David Wilcox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
Prospero, a powerful sorcerer, plans to conjure the storm of the play's title to shipwreck his usurpers and lure them to the island, where his revenge unfolds with humor and romance.
Directing the Auburn Players in the performance is Jamie Bruno, who will occupy the chair for the first time in his theatrical career. Although he says so with some uncertainty, Bruno believes his production of the play may be the first ever performed in Auburn.
“It's something that is recognizable but also new to the community,” Bruno said.
Because they are likely the first to stage “The Tempest” for local audiences, Bruno and his cast will not attempt to reinterpret the play from the basic structure crafted by Shakespeare.
“We'll be concentrating on the acting in the intimate space of the Auburn Public Theater,” Bruno said. “We'll try to make everything as realistic and naturalistic as possible.”
The actors will be anything but bored realizing their roles in “The Tempest.” The 18-member cast can only claim one veteran of Shakespeare's last solitarily written play in Colin Sullivan, who performed as Caliban in a high school production.
In the role of Prospero is Auburn Player Tony Bersani, who will add the sorcerer to a long list of past Shakespearean parts that includes Lago in “Othello” and Bassanio in “The Merchant of Venice.”
“It's a character that encompasses all aspects of humanity. He's noble, kind and loving, but also vengeful,” Bersani said.
Bersani believes Prospero's character reflects the emotional content of “The Tempest,” which invites audiences to peer into a world ruled by a wide range of emotions.
“It's every aspect of the human condition all rolled into one play,” he said. “But it's not a heavy piece; it's a light play that has undercurrents of reality.”
While the substance of the play engages audiences emotionally, Bruno expects Shakespeare's brilliant writing to shine on the surface.
“The quality of poetry (in ‘The Tempest') is as good as anything he ever wrote and the humor he brings to the play is unsurpassed, some moments in this play are just hilarious,” Bruno said.
Bruno takes the reins of “The Tempest” with a resume of both the production and performance sides of local theater. He has acted with Syracuse Shakespeare Festival for two years, and last summer he served as assistant director on another Shakespeare classic, “The Taming of the Shrew,” in Thornden Park.
But Bruno has approached his director duties on “The Tempest” with no abundance of self-assurance.
“I've been very nervous,” Bruno said with some amusement. “It's been a real chore to fall asleep at night.”
Staff writer David Wilcox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are 1 comment(s)
Carole Estabrook wrote on Apr 17, 2007 11:52 AM: