tempestuous(ness), or HIStory Is Told by the Victors
We employ one of Shakespeare’s more psychologically complex works (“The Tempest”) as a point of departure.
The central issue we explore is why Sycorax, former mistress of The Tempest’s island, is missing from the Bard’s play. She's a witch, single mom, and female ruler of a magical place, commanding monsters and fairies, yet Shakespeare reduces this fascinating character’s life to a rambling expository monologue! What’s really going on?
With tempestuous(ness) we let Sycorax tell her side of the story, while deconstructing the other stories beneath “The Tempest”.
Audience Reviews for our run at the SF Fringe Festival
Play: tempestuous(ness) or HIStory is Told by the Victors
Reviewer: Gretchen
4 Stars
I enjoyed this play, which weaves together the (nonexistent in Shakespeare) backstory of Sycorax, and how she arrived on the island. It's a good story, well-acted.
Chloe Veltman, of SF Weekly and diverse other publications, reviews several Fringe shows, including tempestuous(ness)