The Tempest

Photo: Maynardville

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Maynardville Open-air Theatre

31 January 2025 - 08 March 2025

Watched on 8 February 2025

Shakespeare’s The Tempest found an atmospheric and fitting stage at Cape Town’s Maynardville Open-Air Theatre, where the natural surroundings and a light drizzle only added to the evening’s enchantment. Under thoughtful direction by Sylvaine Strike, the production balanced its themes of power, revenge, and redemption with striking visuals and compelling performances.

Despite a microphone glitch that required a brief restart, the technical team ensured a fairly polished and immersive experience. The evocative lighting design by Oliver Hauser made excellent use of the surrounding trees, casting eerie shadows and enhancing the island’s mystical allure with minimal special effects. Niall Griffin’s costumes and set design were equally effective, blending period and fantasy elements to create a visually rich yet uncluttered stage. The natural setting of Maynardville was seamlessly incorporated, allowing the environment itself to contribute to the storytelling.

Among the cast, the supporting performances stood out, particularly David Viviers in the dual roles of Antonio and Stephano. His ability to seamlessly shift between the coldly calculating usurper (still humorously delivered) and the delightfully drunken butler was a highlight, bringing tension and humour to the production. Equally compelling was Albert Pretorius as Caliban, who delivered a raw and layered performance, capturing the character’s resentment, pain, and unexpected moments of vulnerability, and though his character was a 'monster', there was a fair amount of sympathy for him.

While much anticipation surrounded Antoinette Kellerman’s portrayal of Prospero, the performance, though strong, did not entirely live up to the hype. Kellerman’s commanding presence and skill were undeniable, but a younger, more agile performer could also have brought depth and energy to the role, and would have made more sense to play siblings with a cast half her age.. The director’s choice to cast Prospero as a woman was an interesting and effective decision, making the character’s motivations and relationships even more resonant—though the title of "Duke" remained unchanged, a small but curious oversight.

While some interpretations link The Tempest to themes of colonialism, this theory feels like a stretch. The play is, at its core, a story about power, forgiveness, and human folly, rather than a deliberate political statement.

Ultimately, The Tempest at Maynardville was an evocative and beautifully staged production, proving that even the elements couldn’t disrupt the magic of Shakespeare performed under the stars.