Players stir up a ‘Tempest’ in the park

Tom Titus

When William Shakespeare wrote “The Tempest” it was considered his

grand finale, the last in a prodigious number of comedies, tragedies

and historical plays, most of which have become classics in the

theatrical firmament.

The Huntington Beach Playhouse, in presenting this magical

treatise as the latest in its “Shakespeare in the Park” series, has

followed the Bard’s line religiously, using a first folio of the play

and presenting it precisely as written, with no cuts or alterations

-- either in text or performance style.

Director Mark Sacks has hewed religiously to the presentational

method of the period, encouraging his actors to play most of their

lines directly to the audience -- a potential detriment were the

performers not so well equipped for their missions. Staged outdoors,

in the city’s Central Park amphitheater, “The Tempest” is notable as

much or more for its broad comedy as its magical theme of redemption.

This story of a duke wrongly stripped of his title and exiled to a

Mediterranean island, who turns the tables on his enemies with the

aid of a whimsical and invisible sprite, combines the serious

elements of Shakespeare’s previous works with the fantasy of, say, “A

Midsummer Night’s Dream.” There’s also a generous dollop of

Falstaffian humor in the mix.

Darren Nash, bearded and scholarly, enacts the central role of

Prospero as an omniscient overlord with an intimate relationship with

his audience. Unruffled by his circumstances, Nash conducts his

mission of revenge and repatriation with an air of detached

amusement.

His daughter, Miranda, innocent in the ways of the world, is

beautifully interpreted by Nakisa Aschtiani, whose captivation by the

visiting nobleman Ferdinand -- stalwartly rendered by Joshua Collins

-- offers a highly attractive subplot. Particularly impressive among

the island denizens is Linzee Parz Hamilton as the fairy sprite

Ariel, who conducts her magical missions with an impish grin and a

thoroughly winning presence.

Shakespeare enjoyed playing to the lowest common denominator among

his audiences, and created the evil, gnarled Caliban for precisely

that purpose. In the Huntington Beach production, Darren Held

captures the scenery-chomping “monster” full bore, fully nailing the

character’s duplicity and wavering allegiance in a spirited,

eye-catching performance.

There is much of Sir John Falstaff from the Bard’s previous works

in the character of Stephano, the rotund, rum-fueled sailor who

conspires with Caliban in an ill-conceived coup, and Richard Kennemur

captures this gregarious nature splendidly. Jon Apostal is goofily

gregarious as the third member of this motley crew.

Paul O’Sullivan presents the wrongful ruler Antonio as a

conscience-stricken nobleman with whom it becomes difficult to find

fault. Nathan Singh is fine as the loyal Gonzalo, while Jason Cruz

ably enacts the murderous Sebastian.

“The Tempest” is not Shakespeare’s greatest play, derivative as it

is from the Bard’s earlier works, but the Huntington Beach production

is calculated to catch the playgoer’s attention, even outdoors in

90-degree weather.

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The Huntington Beach Playhouse will have two productions running

this weekend, the Saturday and Sunday performances of “The Tempest”

in Central Park and the opening weekend of Gilbert and Sullivan’s

“The Pirates of Penzance,” which goes up Friday night in the adjacent

Central Library Theater.

The Gilbert and Sullivan musical, directed and choreographed by

Larry Watts, will be staged Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m.,

Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m. through Aug. 8,

with a matinee only on closing day. David Diieric is musical director

for the production.

Tickets for “Pirates” are available by calling the playhouse at

(714) 375-0696 or by visiting the theater’s website,

https://www.hbph.com.