Review: The Tempest at Auckland University

I was fortunate to catch Auckland University's Summer Shakespeare before the weekend's stormy weather put a dampener on the season. The event has transferred to a corner of Old Government House gardens, where an eclectic blend of mature oaks and lush subtropicals offer the perfect setting for the strange music of Shakespeare's enchanted island.

The many ambiguities of The Tempest have made it a favourite for post-structuralists and post-colonial theorists but director Roderick Morgan has refreshingly claimed the aegis of a "traditional" approach.

The absence of any over-arching contemporary reference gives clarity to the play's convoluted narrative and the judiciously edited text delivers a brisk running time of less than two hours.

The production effectively uses the natural advantages of the setting and studiously avoids anything too flashy. The opening storm at sea - which has inspired a rich tradition of pyrotechnics and experimental stagecraft - is modestly rendered with sound effects and a static image of a sailing ship.

However, the director's approach to casting is as radical as you would find in any avant-garde production. The role of Prospero - which stands alongside Lear as one of Shakespeare's most complex meditations on the psyche of an elderly father figure - is taken by a young woman in high-heeled boots.

Candice De Villiers makes the best of the situation with a spirited, articulate performance but struggles to overcome the sheer incongruity of watching a fresh-faced young woman delivering lines that are so specific to the anguish of a patriarch entering his twilight years.

Edward Clendon is engaging as the spirit Ariel, adding some finely judged physical flourishes. Alexander Gander brings a nicely psychotic edge to his portrayal of Caliban's sullen rebellion. Charles Louwrens established a dangerous physical presence that effectively evokes the world of Machiavellian conspiracy, and Tama Boyle convincingly portrays the counsellor Gonzalo as rather a pompous old fool.

The truncated cast of 12 have clearly worked hard at mastering the play's rich language and it is always inspiring to see a fresh generation engaging with challenges posed by Shakespeare's poetry.