‘Captured by Caliban, awed by Ariel’ – the two spirits (played respectively and brilliantly by Mark Fiddaman and Niall McDaid) were the linchpins in Oxford Theatre Guild’s summer production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, staged in a glade in the University Parks.
The tale of betrayal and bewitchment, revenge and fresh love is ruled by an unusually troubled and edgy magician, Prospera (not Prospero in this production) with her equally edgy daughter Miranda.
“one of the best Shakespeare in the parks we have seen”
The emphasis in this production is magic and mayhem over seriousness, and it works extremely well: the comedy had the audience delighted, the magic had us spellbound. Fresh love became gawky and funny, a new take on the play.
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The limitations of the outdoor setting were transformed into a positive by the clever direction by the RSC’s Michael Corbidge which included terrific sound effects and actors appearing through the audience, fully immersing us in the action.
“The whole play was very well paced without a dull moment, and a really high standard of acting”
The whole play was very well paced without a dull moment, and displayed a really high standard of acting overall.
Indeed it’s one of the best Shakespeare in the parks we have seen. Running until July 30th, it’s an Oxford summer event not to be missed.” Book here https://www.ticketsoxford.com/events/the-tempest
Sheila Bailey
