The Tempest
at Stone Bridge High School

Reviewed on May 20, 2021

Lauren Katz
Lake Braddock Secondary School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

Goddesses, magic, a fairy, a deserted island, all in the Wild West? That's just a sneak peek of what Stone Bridge High School's production of The Tempest was all about.

One of Shakespeare's last written plays, The Tempest tells the story of an abandoned island inhabited by a sorcerer, Prospero, and his daughter, Miranda. After a shipwreck on the island bringing new visitors, the entire island is thrown into chaos, and the lives and love of many are put in jeopardy.

The students of Running Dog Productions were able to create a concise film version of William Shakespeare's The Tempest set in the Wild West. Their production used brief voice-over synopses throughout to detail the two-hour play in just 30 minutes. The fast-paced performance was full of energy and brought a new life to the old Shakespearian classic.

One of the most notable performances that held a commanding stage presence was that of Diana Altenhof, who played Ariel. Throughout the show, the fairy would prance about the stage singing spells and using her entire body to convey her character's passionate feelings. Her boundless energy contrasted well with the slower, more emotional scenes of the show and brought balance to every scene. From when she first stepped onstage to her last exit, Diana Altenhof's performance was captivating and engaging, something hard to forget.

Another performance that had considerable energy in addition to some wonderful stage chemistry was the scene between Trinculo and Stephano, played by Grace Paskey and Bella LoBue. The two made quite a dynamic duo, moving about the stage with large, commanding comedic gestures. The pair never failed to get a good laugh and brought much needed comedic relief to the more somber moments of the show.

The show would not have been able to go on as it did without the fabulous work of Ava Bueno, Emma Paskey, Katie Reif, and TJ Santoro, who all worked to edit and mix the audio for the productions. The virtual medium of theatre brings a difficult new challenge to producing shows: creating a production in which everyone can be heard clearly. Throughout the entire duration of the show, all the actors were heard clearly, and no actor's voice was too loud or quiet. The sound mixing was flawless, and it was immediately evident after just a minute of hearing the performance the amount of work put into the sound for this show. The flawless sound combined with the quick cuts and smooth transition made the show a very satisfying watch.

Another tech element that shone through was the set, designed by Maia Ocampo and co-designed by Diana Altenhof. There were many sets constructed for this show, which helped differentiate one location from another; a helpful element for a show that is so fast paced. Every set fit the scene it was for perfectly and looked beautiful at the same time. The little detailing and aesthetic elements added to the sets, like painting the wood to look aged and overgrown and placing intricate vines over the buildings and structures. These elements made the sets look professional, and the high-quality level of the construction was consistent in every scene.

Stone Bridge High School's production of The Tempest was a refreshing and new look at the 1600s classic. The effort put in was universal in both acting and technical elements, and made apparent through the seamless transitions and powerful stage presences throughout the entire performance--an unforgettable performance of such an unforgettable story.

Emma Berver
Washington-Liberty High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Stone Bridge High School's production of The Tempest took Shakespeare's original text and adapted it into a high energy, well-designed, and engaging ensemble piece. To shorten the run time of the production, the students inserted their own voice-overs in between some scenes to move the story along. The props, costumes, and sets used gave the story a Wild West twist, but otherwise the script is pure Shakespeare.

The acting in The Tempest managed to balance powerful monologues by a single actor on stage with energetic and comedic ensemble scenes. Andrew Burton, who played Prospero, delivered his final monologue with such power and projection that it made the final scene of the show something to think about due to Propero's dubious morality. Bella LoBue, Grace Paskey, and Emma Noble (playing Stephano, Trinculo, and Caliban respectively) put such gusto and liveliness into their scene in which Stephano discovers Caliban hiding from Trinculo, through their snappy dialogue and inebriated singing. All around, the cast had a strong sense of the projection and pronunciation required to convey The Tempest to an audience, and the story was cohesively told.

The production design made the performance visually engaging and elevated the show to another level of professionalism. The variety in the sets, from a wagon riding through a storm shown by projecting moving clouds onto the stage, to a lush forest backdrop, to high ivy-covered walls, immersed the story in an authentic environment. Maia Ocampo designed the sets while Alex Merkt decorated them. The props, by Emma Paskey, were effectively utilized to identify each character in the story, the most memorable being Prospero's staff topped with a sparkling purple orb. The lighting design, by Riley Seppings, drenched the set in emotion - such as when Ariel hurled accusations at Prospero and the stage was awash in an angry red hue. All of these elements combined were able to augment the intrigue, power dynamics, and lushness of The Tempest.

The film directors, Ava Bueno, Emma Paskey, and TJ Santoro, used an array of creative camera angles that effectively captured the stage performance on high quality video with such precision and immersion that it was easy to forget it was released virtually. The close-ups of Prospero's face during his final speech, the wide shots that encompassed the whole ensemble and the sets, and the tracking shots used to follow a character as they walked onstage gave the recording a cinematic feel. The editing, which was done by the film directors in addition to Katie Reif, was quick and creative - the best example being when they used three quick cuts between close-up camera angles to render the moment when Stephano lassoed Trinculo's foot to pull him out from under his hiding spot. The audio mixing was admirably done too, with the team managing to capture both loud passionate speeches and a melodic flute performance by Emma Paskey equally well.

The students of Stone Bridge High School created an exceptionally detailed production of The Tempest with so many small touches it deserved to be watched again. But most importantly, it seemed that the group took a classic theater play and had fun with it, as they managed to expand the many elements into something that felt entirely unique.

Zander Kuebler
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Now

Complete with wagons, guns, and lassos, Stone Bridge High School put a Wild West twist on their production of "The Tempest," highlighting a unique perspective on the classic Shakespearean bundle of comedy and tragedy.

Widely assumed to be William Shakespeare's last original play, "The Tempest" was first performed in 1611. The story follows a wizard named Prospero as he uses magic and manipulation to seek revenge on his brother Antonio for usurping his dukedom. Propsero's extreme attempts to hurt Antonio and his accomplices lead to a variety of bizarre situations involving a plethora of different quirky and magical characters, ultimately resulting in Propero reclaiming his duke status.

Because much of the story revolves around the actions of Prospero, it is imperative that a production of "The Tempest" has a capable actor fulfilling that role. Andrew Burton did not disappoint, taking on the essential part with ease. Burton used a powerful posture and a booming voice to display Propsero's dominance, and wielded Prospero's staff with such comfort that it seemed natural. Most impressive, however, was Burton's ability to maintain this powerful aura while still displaying a variety of emotions, as he adjusted his pitch and inflection to convey his character's feelings.

Complementing Burton's commanding portrayal of Prospero was Prospero's daughter, Miranda, played by Ava Bueno. Bueno's Miranda aligned perfectly with Burton's Prospero. She spoke softer than him, but not too much softer. She was less exaggerative than him, but not too much so. By balancing her acting choices with Burton's, they created an on-stage relationship that seemed very father-daughter. Unlike Bueno's softer portrayal of Miranda, Diana Altenhof depicted the spirit Ariel as full of energy and enthusiasm. She contrasted Burton's brash delivery with one that was neither overly flighty nor incomprehensible, yet was right on the brink. This gave her character an on-the-edge feel that made the production much more gripping.

As mentioned previously, this production of "The Tempest" had a Wild West spin. The Stone Bridge technicians demonstrated this atypical choice well, using costuming, lighting, and props to highlight the western setting. One particularly stand-out moment was at the start of the show, where the lighting technicians (Riley Seppings, Alexander Mccoy, Fletcher Loyer, Ki Smith, Josh Douglass, and Emily Lough) created the illusion that a wagon was going through a storm. The lighting team used different types of shading to make the backdrop look like a choppy horizon, which, when coupled with the sounds of thunder and rainfall, made for a believable downpour. Also worth noting were the props (Emma Paskey). While further adding to the western feel with both guns and lassos, the props department also shined with the typical props used in "The Tempest," including a very intricate staff for Prospero.

Ultimately, Stone Bridge High School's unique take on a classic production made for an enjoyable night of magic, madness, and mayhem.

Lucy Martin
Washington-Liberty High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Times-Mirror

O, wonder! How many goodly creatures there are here!

When watching Stone Bridge High School's production of The Tempest, it was near impossible not to feel this way. A classic and one of Shakespeare's most well-known pieces, The Tempest follows the story of a magical island controlled by Prospero, a former Duke of Milan seeking revenge with his daughter Miranda who is hoping to fall in love. It is a story of magic, betrayal, love, and forgiveness, themes Stonebridge did justice to with a twist: it's set in the Wild West!

Performing Shakespeare is no easy task. To bring the audience into this magic world with them, the actors had to have immense control over the language and precise character choices, and Stone Bridge certainly delivered. Andrew Burton gave a stand-out performance as Prospero. His commanding stage presence and steady pacing made for an engaging and enthralling acting performance. Miranda was played by Ava Bueno who brought a kind of strength and determination to the role while never letting Miranda's hopefulness and wonder falter. Burton and Bueno worked splendidly together as this father-daughter pair and had fantastic chemistry.

Another killer performance that cannot go unrecognized came from Diana Altenhof in the role of Ariel, an enthusiastic and quick-thinking fairy. Her control over the language and attention to Shakespeare's meter made for an enchanting portrayal of this classic character. Her physicality is also what made this performance so special. Her graceful, fluid, and fluttery movements really brought this fairy to life.

And of course, no show would be complete without the fantastic work of the technical crew. The costuming in this production, led by Ava Bueno, was very impressive and truly captured both the Wild West setting and the magical, unearthly elements of the show. The video editing and audio mixing by Ava Bueno, Emma Paskey, Katie Reif, and TJ Santoro was also phenomenal. This show was a mix of live performance recorded on a stage and voiceover work, and throughout the entire production, the audio quality remained consistent and clear. The incorporation of other video, images, and animation interspersed between the live footage was well done. While this had the potential to make the show feel disjointed, it only aided in the show's flow and storytelling.

Stone Bridge High School has much to be proud of with this original take on a classic tale. The fantastic work of both the cast and the crew came together to create one captivating piece of art. Again, performing Shakespeare is no easy task, especially at the high school level. But Stone Bridge went above and beyond, showcasing the immense talent within their department.

Josie Binkley
Independence High School
Submitted for publication to Blue Ridge Leader

Tradition blends with the Wild West in "The Tempest" at Stone Bridge High School for a fast paced night of fun. With breathtaking costumes, energetic acting, and an awe-worthy set, this show is one you wouldn't want to miss.

The Tempest is one of Shakespeare's best known works. This comedy, about a major act of betrayal, ill treatment, the development of magic arts and a plot of revenge, is given new life on the screen by the talented cast and crew of Stone Bridge High School, who took the classic and added a twist by setting it in the Wild West. Not only was the work displayed on the stage perfection, but the work offstage was also spectacular. The innovative set and lighting combined with student-created music to add layers of complexity and further suspend the audience's disbelief.

On stage, Diana Altenhof (Ariel) shined with her charisma and energy. Andrew Burton (Prospero) was captivating from start to finish. Emma Noble (Caliban) and Ava Bueno (Miranda) both had excellent physicality that matched their characters, while Bella LoBue (Stephano) and Grace Paskey (Trinculo) drew eyes through their wonderful energy.

While everyone in this show was great, the ensemble of smaller characters added an additional dimension to the show and improved its overall quality. They all had wonderful physicality, pantomiming reins or "Wild West" tasks. Another standout part of the show was the narrators, (Katie Reif, Victoria Rabinowitch, Cori Teel, and Avani Sirota) who instilled excitement and energy into every word they spoke and moved the story along.

On top of the excellent performance on stage, the work done offstage is also worth noting. The costumes made each character sparkle (Ava Bueno). The stage production was brought to the screen flawlessly by the talented film directors (Ava Bueno, Emma Paskey, and TJ Santoro) and the wonderful editors (Ava Bueno, Emma Paskey, Katie Reif, and TJ Santoro). The lights were innovative and beautifully-executed (Riley Seppings, Alexander Mccoy, Fletcher Loyer, Ki Smith, Josh Douglass, and Emily Lough). Another unique part of the show was the music, composed and recorded by Evan Harris and Arman Moshafi. In addition to the lighting and music, the set was an integral part of the execution of this show (Maia Ocampo, Diana Altenhof, Rachel Leary, Manoela Mishima, Sophia Liebermann, Trey Conner, Alex Reif, Alexa Alomia, and Alex Merkt).

This show was classic and exciting. With excellent performances, innovative designs, and creative touches left and right, "The Tempest" at Stone Bridge High school is a spectacular way to spend the night. Just like Shakespeare's original work, this production of The Tempest is sure to stand the test of time with it's classical sense, fast paced story, and breathtaking execution.

Susan Weinhardt
James Madison High School
Submitted for publication to The Bulldog Tribune

Zoom in on a group of pioneers trying to survive a storm while riding in their poorly constructed wagon. Will these brave students from Stone Bridge High School survive the tale that is The Tempest?

The Tempest by William Shakespeare is a classic drama centered around the anti-hero Prospero and the storm he creates, stranding everyone on a deserted island. On this island, many crazy events transpire including a plot to kill Prospero and a love affair between two unlikely lovers. Stone Bridge High School produced an hour-long version of the production, but impressively truncated it to thirty minutes for reviewing purposes.

This production was a unique experience because it contained elements that felt like live theatre and classic Shakespeare and other elements that felt like a movie premiere. The use of camera angles, zooming in and out, and pans during the transitions between scenes enhanced the production quality and was very professional. The performance as a whole was very fast paced but somehow included all important parts of the original script, a testament to the intentionality of the creative concept.

Prospero (Andrew Burton) was the anti-hero and lead role in this production. Burton executed this character with ease, upstaging his cast mates to establish superiority and keeping a stiff figure to show his tension and internal conflict. Other than the incredible body language, Burton made good use of his staff prop which further characterized him as the "protagonist." Another notable character was Ariel (Diana Altenhof). Altenhof played the character Ariel with intense emotion, especially in the scene where she taunts Stephano, Caliban and Trinculo. Her physicality was impressive as she slinked through various scenes unnoticed at first.

Stranded on this island were Stephano (Bella LoBue) and Trinculo (Grace Paskey). Trinculo started us off and was entertaining from the start. Paskey played Trinculo as a very jaunty personality that was curious and playful when exploring this new land. Stephano finds Trinculo and attempts to lasso her. This piece of blocking was great comedic relief (and great for social distancing purposes because the rope kept them six feet apart.)

This production was riddled with impressive technical elements. The lighting and projections at the beginning of the show helped set the creepy and mysterious tone with stormy clouds illuminating the set (Riley Seppings). The red flash of lighting at points in the play indicating anger and chaos were also helpful in distinguishing the mood of a particular scene. Another tech element that was impressive was the sound effects that perfectly matched the lighting in the scene and imitated the sound of thunder during the storm (Ava Bueno, Emma Paskey, Katie Reif, and TJ Santoro).

This production team proved that Shakespeare does not have to be four hours long and slow paced. Four hundred year old stories do not always stick around to the present day, but with the latest technologies and acting styles, Stone Bridge High School put a modern twist on The Tempest.