A play can have many interpretations, especially Shakespearean plays, because there is a lot that different companies, schools, producers, actresses, actors, and more can work with. The Tempest has multiple interpretations, but I will be focusing on the interpretations that the Royal Shakespeare Company and a school did.
In the Royal Shakespeare Company interpretation, it is a bit production support or funded and very dramatic, but whimsical. They place a lot of emphasis on Prospero’s conversation with Ariel and on Ariel’s appearance as well. Ariel was dressed as a spiritual and magical being, but he acted like one as well. There were times when the actor flew all over the staged and flipped around, sparkling while the stars that surrounded him sparkled as well.
It really felt like he was a magical being and I honestly thought that he was a CGI character on stage with the actor saying the lines backstage, but I don’t think that this was the case. Additionally, Prospero seems desperate when summoning Ariel and when talking to him. Ariel discusses all that he can do, and all that Prospero can accomplish, as he looks like a celestial being, but rather demanding power in the scene, Prospero looks more like a receiver of the power. He looks and acts like he should be blessed that Ariel is even talking to him. The lights on stage also travel with Ariel along with Prospero as they move.
In the school’s interpretation, the emphasis is more on the conversation between Prospero, Miranda, and Caliban. Ariel makes an appearance, but it’s really brief and done in a creative way. While this interpretation was dramatic, it wasn’t as dramatic as the first interpretation. It was livelier and more natural, and even included some humorous actions and words. For instance, Prospero is exhausted with Miranda and tells her to get up, but the actor changed the dialogue a bit and showed the exhaustion in body language, eliciting laughs from the audience, since it was done in a more modern way. At this time, the light is focused on the whole stage, but when Prospero calls for Caliban, the back of the stag starts to darken, and the light starts to focus on Caliban alone. I think that the light change and the tone change between the two men are more engaging than in the first interpretation, but the actors performed it in a more natural and relatable manner. The actor who played Caliban also knows how to be moving with his monologue which builds on the dire mood that has now overtaken the stage.
Both interpretations were interesting and cool, but I think that I like the second better than the first.
Works Cited:
Company, Royal Shakespeare. “Act 1, Scene 2 | The Tempest | Royal Shakespeare Company”. Youtube, 13 Jun 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=3bjrx0xlPMg&t=18s.
Martel, Christopher. “The Tempest - Act 1 Scene 2”. Youtube, 26 Aug 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQgp-X2sCP8.