The Feast: an intimate Tempest

From the playgoer's guide:

With his axe as a magic staff and his sketches in a magic book, our Prospero has carved a whole world of his own out of wood. He longs to hear the story of his life the way it SHOULD have been, and it unfolds out of this wooden world over which he has complete control. He is not quite alone. He needs his actors to perform the story. Ariel and Caliban, now bound to his command, are his performers and puppeteers.

But no matter how frightening the tempest, how beautiful the wedding, and how violent his revenge on his enemies...it somehow does not satisfy. He begins again, and again, in hopes that once the story is PERFECT, he will have peace.

Staged upstairs at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, this production features three actors and, yes, puppets. But before you do what I nearly did (i.e., "Bosh! Puppets? Really?"), let me assure you that this retelling is textually true and emotionally intense. We were intrigued, absorbed, and moved. You'll find more information about this unique production here and an article here.

(And can I tell you? Every time the Misses and I espy Barbara Gaines -- twice this visit -- we gasp, as if we had caught a glimpse of a rock star or Hollywood A-lister.)