L.A.'s newest theatre troupe infuses elements of Japanese kuroko and dance into its production, offering a darker twist on this Shakespeare classic and highlighting the struggles of man versus nature in a far away land.
When: September 5th-7th, 11th-14th, 18th-21st, 25th-28th Thursday through Saturday @ 8pm, Sunday @ 7pm Where: Studio/Stage [Web Site] [Directions]
The Tempest opens with the powerful sorcerer Prospero, in a fit of rage and revenge, conjuring a magical tempest upon the ocean that shipwrecks Alonso, the King of Naples and his company of travelers, including his jealous brother Sebastian and the scheming lord Antonio who plot to kill him. While the castaways deal with Prospero's minions -- the mischievous spirit Ariel and the blighted creature Caliban -- it's not until Alonso's son Ferdinand falls in love with Prospero's beautiful daughter Miranda that the stage is truly set for Shakespeare's final masterpiece.
"I wanted to direct this show because of the possibilities of interplay between the fundamental ideals of freedom and revenge, and how those ideals can be either redemptive or destructive to a man's soul," said Director Jeff Soroka. "Beyond the brilliant moments of both comedy and drama, there is a mystical romance, a hunger for political ambition, a beautiful message of forgiveness and a brutal struggle between humanity's better and lesser natures."
Last year, Soroka gained local acclaim for his raw, chthonic production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, which featured several of the same artists he is now working with in The Tempest. In his latest production, he wanted to once again infuse ethereal elements to make the show more intimate, more focused and slightly different than how it has been presented in the past. This production features design elements geared toward drawing the audience closer to the island, enveloping them in the show itself. Further, Soroka uses a number of spirits, influenced by the fluid movement of the Japanese kuroko, to enhance the action.
"Jeff is an incredible artist, just a dynamo who understand what makes live theatre work," said Andrew Moore, president of Theatre Unleashed. "He doesn't direct so much as he summons the kind of magic that sends a chill up your spine in a darkened house. It's a privilege to work with him in our inaugural season."
After the opening of The Tempest, Theatre Unleashed is also set to unveil a side project, Through a Caffeine Haze, a series of one acts featuring company members performing in coffee shops throughout the city. Theatre Unleashed is also in rehearsals for the original full-length show Pin-Up Girls, which follows a troupe of San Francisco burlesque dancers as they encounter the new-found freedom American women discovered during World War II, reshaping traditional gender roles for good.
If you're seeking out a coffee house to visit before or after the show, check out one of our fine supporters across Los Angeles. Also, make sure you stop in to see our production Through a Caffeine Haze playing at these coffee shops throughout September.
