It was lovely of the Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) to give us at The Ridge a pair of tickets to watch Shakespeare in the Park, The Tempest last week. Set in the middle of Fort Canning Park, the entire space of greenery fronting the majestic stage is ideal for a picnic while viewing a play, so it’s no wonder that Shakespeare in the Park has been a yearly event in Singapore so far.
One of William Shakespeare’s most popular romantic comedies, The Tempest, was written in the 17th century, and is set on a remote island where Prospero (Simon Robson) uses his magic to right the wrongs he’d been dealt with. He conjures a storm, The Tempest, with the help of his faithful servant Ariel (Ann Lek), and brings his foes to the island. This is where most part of the story unveils, which finally ends happily with his once enemies repentant of their misdoings, with his daughter Miranda (Julie Wee) marrying Prince Ferdinand (Timothy Wan).
But despite the majestic set that resembled the deck of a ship and an open book with scribblings on it, The Tempest did not quite impress as expected. Perhaps it was the light drizzle that made outdoor viewing a little uncomfortable, or that the story came off as one dimensional, leaving the audiences with no inkling about the characters’ motivations.
Though Prospero is a sorcerer who can wield magic, even his towering height over the other actors wasn’t able to weave him a powerful presence as his lines came off quite flat. Ariel’s endless devotion to her master is also left unexplored, her subservience to Prospero interpreted at best as infatuation with her master. Miranda and Ferdinand’s romance is as incredulous as it happened; for they seem to have fallen in love at first sight with no reason apparent to the audience, and Miranda’s interactions with Ferdinand later comes off as seemingly desperate, with her proposing marriage to the Prince first, even before he indicated serious interest. Worse still, the character of Caliban, the imprisoned slave of Prospero, only seemed to present Prospero as a villian, and only Shakespeare readers would understand the reason for Prospero’s ill treatment of him.
However, there are some redeeming qualities for the play. For one, Ann Lek’s pitch perfect singing, the interesting use of Chinese mythology in the costume design, and the cast’s unwavering dedication to perform in spite of the rain. Perhaps, given a better adaptation of the script and weather, The Tempest could have raised a bigger storm.
The Tempest runs until May 24, 7.30pm, at Fort Canning Park. Tickets available at sistic.com.sg.
Photos credit: SRT