William Shakespeare’s The Tempest is a whirlwind tale of redemption,
love and revenge that the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company brought to life last night in Gallagher Theater. The two-hour production boasted an energetic six-person cast that filled out the twelve characters that the show calls for.
The actors and actresses often made quick costume and character changes (even mid-line), shifting from scheming drunk to smitten young man, fair maiden to snarky nobleman and powerful duke to raving madman. The transformations
showcased the actors’ talents and skills and effectively brought the production to life. The cast also made creative use of the stage and their modest, on-the-road set.
Despite the foreign, Shakespearean lexicon, the play was surprisingly entertaining. The cast made overtures to reach the audience
through comedy and pulled some good laughs from the audience.
Humor was not lost, nor was drama: the monologues and ambience
were hair-raising thanks to the intensity of the sorcerer-protagonist
Prospero and his spirit-servant Ariel, played by Sam Rabinowitz and Maggie Lou Rader, respectively.
The performance on the whole was passionate and energetic, and they’re a company worth seeing if you have the opportunity.
The fall season for the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company features Macbeth and The Tempest on tour, along with To Kill a Mockingbird, Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the theater. You can catch them outside this fall, or in their downtown theater on Race Street. You can get more information
from their website, cincyshakes.com, or on Facebook at facebook.com/cincyshakes.
Tuesday, June 24, 2025