An Open Bar Theatre pub garden tour is always a treat, and this year I headed down the road to a local pub to see The Tempest, performed by a four-person cast.
The night was a little chilly, but we were seated in a semi-circle and protected by a large canopy, so with an extra layer, it was nice and comfy. The company used a set of stacked boxes to bring the story to life and offer some height.
In true Open Bar style, there was music and audience participation, and a lot of humour. Sarah Gain’s Ariel is a particular highlight, cheeky and impish. It contrasts well with her devoted Gonzalo, old friend of Prospero.
A quick primer on The Tempest. Prospero was Duke of Milan but was usurped by his brother Antonio and now lives on a magical isle with his daughter Miranda, servant and resident monster Caliban, and airy spirit Ariel.
At the start of the play a ship is wrecked on its way to Naples. With Antonio present alongside the King, his son Prince Ferdinand, and retinue Gonzalo, Sebastian, Stephano and Trinculo. Yes, that’s a total of 11 characters.
The four actors (Gain, Kaysha Woolery, Ben Galpin, and Darrel Bailey) throw themselves into the multi-casting and quick costuming.
Woolery as Miranda captures a sense of wonder and lust as she falls in love for the first time; her Antonio is a sneaky spider and her drunken Trinculo hilarious.
Bailey is something of a world-weary wizard as Prospero, brandishing his staff as if truly irritated by its power. His Sebastian is easily led by Antonio, and Stephano is led by the bottle.
And Galpin’s slightly goofy Ferdinand contrasts with his father the King, truly bereft when he feels his son has been lost in the storm. His pathetic Caliban also makes you recoil while touching the heart.
This was a Tempest of fun, which still managed to put across the substance of the play. It’s an almost panto style presentation, but with the moments of real depth and feeling intact.
I liked the set up at the Forester pub, a recent addition to the Fullers family, which allowed for a small central stage plus walkways to keep our attention at different points. A heckling child was good-naturedly ignored (at least he was interested!).
Open Bar left their audience well-entertained over two hours of performance. A necessarily edited Tempest, with added common speech and in-jokes (a dig at paying 100s of pounds for Spiderman playing Shakespeare went down well), it hits the spot.
I’ll also remember the danger of a rampaging group of squirrels for a long time. You had to be there. The fun and unpredictability of live theatre!
Nicky Diss directs, and Vicky Gaskin (a memorable Caliban in a previous Open Bar Tempest) handles movement. Music is composed by David Knight, who adds new catchy tunes for Ariel’s songs and the company’s recaps.
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Although this was the last performance of The Tempest, Open Bar Theatre are currently touring Much Ado About Nothing (with a 6 person cast). Details and tickets here.
All photos taken at the performance of 31 Aug.