Hudson Players harness beauty of outdoors
When you think Shakespeare’s The Tempest, you think remote island, stormy shores and magic. Jack Layton Park in Hudson may not immediately conjure up images of sorcery and squalls, but theatre director Mary Vuorela described its natural splendour as the perfect backdrop for the Bard’s play about harnessing nature’s power and the human ability to embrace love and forgiveness. The Hudson Players Club production of The Tempest is at Jack Layton Park beginning July 12. “As soon as the weather began co-operating, we began rehearsing (The Tempest) in the park so that the actors could adapt and get a sense of their timing,” Vuorela said. “The park is on a peninsula, which means the actors see water all around them as they perform. It helps them visualize. The story becomes really vivid to them.” That said, performing Shakespeare in the open comes with its share of challenges. “The park is right beside a boat launch,” Vuorela said. “So we compete with speed boats. And then there are the planes overhead and the guy down the road mowing his lawn. And, of course, there is the weather to consider. And the bugs.” Vuorela has cast a woman, Diana Gaudsen, in the main role of Prospero, changing the name to Prospera. It’s been done before and for Vuorela, it just made sense. The narrative focuses on sorceress Prospera, the rightful Duchess of Milan, who has been stranded on a remote island for 12 years after being deposed by her brother. She plots her revenge and how she will fight to restore her daughter Miranda’s noble birthright. “The evils done to Prospera feel even more evil when they are done to a woman and small child,” Vuorela said. “Everything Prospera does is for (her daughter) Miranda. Her actions ring even truer because she is a woman — that sense of sacrifice for the love of a child.” When Prospera’s dark efforts pay off and her enemies are under her control, she ultimately chooses a different path. The Tempest is Vuorela’s favourite Shakespeare play. It was the first of his plays she saw when she was a youngster, and it was performed in a park. “It is accessible,” Vuorela said. “It is a strong story about forgiveness and remorse, about getting over what’s been done to you and moving on to something better.” Using The Tempest’s remote island setting as a metaphor, Vuorela said it would have been easy for Prospera to stay put, stay the same, stuck and isolated, but she decides to opt for change. “Her daughter compels her to do so,” Vuorela said. “She forces herself to forgive. It’s magical. You have to forgive to be able to love. If you can do it, it changes everything in your body, spirit, soul and life.” Understanding the language of Shakespeare can be daunting for some, which is why Vuorela has worked hard to help the cast convey Shakespeare’s distinct brand of poetic narrative. The Tempest also has a strong musical element. The original score, set to Shakespeare’s text, is written by musical director Roy Vuorela, who happens to be the director’s brother. For the sake of brevity, Mary Vuorela has trimmed the play in certain places. “I’ve always preferred to show instead of tell,” she said. “And if we go on too long, it gets too dark.” Bring a lawn chair and bug spray. A little mist or sprinkling rain will not stop the performance. Hudson Players Club presents The Tempest at Jack Layton Park, 400 Halcro St., July 12-16 and July 18-22 at 7 p.m. Suggested donation is $10. For more information, visit www.hudsonplayersclub.ca. kgreenaway@postmedia.com