About THE TEMPEST

Stranded for twelve years on a desert island with his young daughter Miranda, Prospero, true Duke of Milan, has spent his exile mastering sorcery and commanding the island’s spirits. He creates a violent storm to shipwreck those who cost him his kingdom, trapping his treacherous brother Antonio and King Alonso of Naples, and their followers onto his remote island. With the help of the spirit Ariel, he uses the shipwreck to separate the survivors across the island, setting a grand plan of retribution and restoration into motion.

As the survivors wander the island, Prospero orchestrates a romantic meeting between Alonso’s noble son, Ferdinand, and Miranda. The two instantly fall in love, fulfilling Prospero's hopes for a peaceful future union. Another machination reveals to King Alonzo the treachery of his own brother and his vassal, Antonio. Meanwhile, a comical plot emerges as Caliban, a monster who calls the island home, teams up with a drunken butler and jester to murder Prospero and claim all for themselves, though Ariel easily thwarts their clumsy conspiracy.

In the final act, Prospero confronts his enemies and reveals the ship was never actually lost at all! He gives each of them an opportunity to own up to their wrongs. While some are more contrite than others, he takes the higher road, choosing mercy over revenge, forgiving his brother, and reuniting King Alonso with his safely unharmed son, who has promised to wed Prospero’s daughter, restoring her to the royal destiny for which she was born. To celebrate, Prospero finally frees the monster Caliban, releases the spirit Ariel and finally is ready to give up all magic - which he admits cost him his kingdom in the first place - and with his daughter and all the other castaways - at last heads back home to Italy.