The Tempest - Review of 2025 Production at Drury Lane with Sigourney Weaver

Sigourney Weaver as Prospero, in Shakespeare’s The Tempest directed by Jamie Lloyd, at the grand and legendary Theatre Royal Drury Lane? Who can resist a production like that? I couldn’t.

It is a commendable production with a few things to complain about and I will do that. Weaver has a commanding voice and stage presence, but it comes with qualifications. She is sitting down through most of her performance and has a microphone close to her mouth that magnifies her voice even when we expect less stentorian scenes. She wears a small gray vest, along with a white shirt and black pants. No magic wand and no other indication of authority. When she relinquishes her extraordinary powers, she takes off the unprepossessing vest and that’s it.

The Tempest is about the overthrow of a government, usurpation of power, conquest and exile. Prospero, the Duke of Milan, is overthrown by his brother and the King of Naples and shipped to a desert island. He conquers the island, subdues the natives and exercises magical and authoritarian power.

The island has only four inhabitants in this production, Prospero, his daughter Miranda (Mara Huf), Ariel (Mason Alexander Park) and Caliban (Forbes Masson) but the play has a shipload of Spirits, Monsters, Nymphs, Reapers, Dogs, Iris, Ceres and Juno and Harpy. In other words, do not look for the masque in this production.
His lovely daughter Miranda has not seen any beings except for the vile and animalistic Caliban (son of the late witch Siccorax), and the fairy Ariel.

The Tempest opens with a violent storm represented in this production by thunder and lightning on a black backdrop. When it subsides, we see a rise on the right side of the stage and black background for the rest of the production. A ship carrying the usurpers of Prospero’s rule from Milan and Naples is sunk and its passengers end up on the island unharmed. It is a display of Prospero’s magical powers,
We will see Prospero’s exercise of authority and treatment of Ariel and Caliban and may draw the conclusion that he is an imperialist conqueror. His lovely daughter Miranda meets the handsome Prince Ferdinand and falls in love under the strict rules of Prospero. We love the lovers and know that all will go well.

Onboard the ship were the drunkard Stephano and the jester Trinculo. They meet Caliban who thinks they are kings and they all get soused. The three roll on each other, puke and show the effects of excessive drinking. It is an extended scene that could have had the audience rolling in the aisles. In this production, they did not. Is not interested Lloyd in providing a lighter side to an imperialist conquest and subjugation of people. At one pint Trinculo barfs and spits in Stephano’s hat and hands it back to him. He looks at it, smells it, shows disgust and finally puts it on his head. It is a hilarious bit that gets a big laugh but it is just about the only one that does. The two intend to usurp power on the island and appoint Stephano as chief honcho. Continuation of subjugation is no laughing matter.
In the meantime, Antonio, (Prospero’s brother) and Sebastian (the brother of King of Naples) are plotting to overthrow King Alonso and seize power in Milan and Naples.

The size of the theatre probably makes it impossible for the actors to project their voices to the back rows of the balconies. Drury Lane is more suited for noisy musicals, which is what is usually produced there. That is an issue that Lloyd “solves” with microphones.
Jamie Lloyd gives a dark Tempest from the obviously nasty plotters, usurpers and would-be usurpers to Prospero’s conduct to almost the end of the play and the dark stage. There is no vegetation, no firewood for Ferdinand to carry – nothing but forbidding darkness.

The Tempest is a complex play with many layers but one of its main aspects is the growth towards forgiveness and grace. By the end of the performance I felt that a woman playing Prospero is preferable to a man in the role. Henry’s physical frailty and strength of character make a powerful combination for the character of Prospero and for some of the themes of the play. The deposed Prospero who seeks refuge on an island becomes an occupier and deposer herself until the end when all changes.
The Tempest by William Shakespeare played at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London. England

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