ASF gives Prospero a maternal twist in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'

It’s still an island full of revenge, forgiveness and powerful magic, but this telling of William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” is likely a bit different than any you’ve experienced before.

A great deal of that is thanks to director Rick Dildine, actor Greta Lambert, and the rest of the cast in this 90-minute production that runs Thursday through March 12 on ASF's Festival Stage.

Lambert is stepping into the traditionally male role of Prospero. In this production, Prospero and her daughter Miranda were betrayed for power, left to die on a boat, and find themselves as castaways on a not-so-deserted island.

Lambert’s Prospero is a dynamic shift from ASF’s last production of “The Tempest” in 2017, which featured Esau Pritchett — a real-life giant of a man — in the role.

“I love Rick’s interpretation to see what a woman would do with the part,” Lambert said. “I think I bring to it motherly love and protection of Miranda, and a desire to see her make her way in a man’s world, the way I had to.”

Now on an island for 12 years, Prospero and Miranda are not alone. Ariel, the powerful spirit of the island, is Prospero’s servant, and Caliban, the son of a witch, is Prospero’s slave. Using Ariel’s powers to create a storm, Prospero brings her enemies crashing onto the island’s shores.

“Prospero has had Ariel kind of in servitude for years, always with the promise that she would be released,” Lambert said.

Lambert said the story is about how Prospero discovers that forgiveness is more important than revenge.

Lambert said this fast-paced show been trimmed to 90 minutes, and is told in Shakespeare’s Elizabethan English.

“I think it’s pretty understandable,” Lambert said. “There’s a lot of comedy, too. There’s some very funny characters in funny situations.”

With performances on ASF’s Festival Stage, the island scene is set with the giant skeleton of a ship on stage, Lambert said. The production includes live music.

“It’s going to be pretty fabulous,” Lambert said.

It’s also a fitting play to act as a closure for Lambert, who is retiring from ASF’s administrative staff and said she is taking a pause from acting after “Tempest.” She’s been a part of ASF for almost 40 years, and has been in more than 100 roles there.

In 1987, during Lambert’s second season at ASF, she starred in “The Tempest” as Prospero’s daughter, Miranda.

“Phillip Pleasants was Prospero,” Lambert said. “I remember sitting at his feet, because Prospero talks a lot in the first scene, and just looking at him with awe, and learning so much from Phillip.”

More:Take a bow: Actor, director Greta Lambert retiring from ASF staff

As she's prepared for "The Tempest" to open this week, she says it's been bittersweet and emotionally overwhelming. Each step in the process — from rehearsal hall to stage to the final performances — comes with the knowledge that it's the last... At least for a while.

"I'm filled with love and sadness and memories," Lambert said. "It's just been a beautiful part of my life."

Tickets for "The Tempest" are available at asf.net, or by calling the box office at 334-271-5353.

Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: ASF gives Prospero a maternal twist in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'