John Douglas Thompson Makes Commonwealth Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' Soar

There's an elegant simplicity to Steven Maler's production of "The Tempest," which continues through Sunday at the Parkman Bandstand on the Boston Common. With a minimal set (co-designed by Chris Ramos and Jeffrey Peterson) comprised of large, vertical blinds at the stage's rear, and some driftwood and sand to suggest the barren island where Shakespeare's magical comedy takes place, the production showcases what Commonwealth Shakespeare does best – bringing together a first-rate group of (mostly) local actors to make the Bard accessible to as wide an audience as possible.

Chief amongst the cast is John Douglas Thompson as Prospero, the embittered Duke who has been exiled to a desolate island and conjures the titular storm that shipwrecks his enemies, who include his duplicitous brother, At first Thompson schemes from the sidelines – bemused by his enemies and pleased with how he sets up the romance between one of the shipwrecked – a handsome Prince – with his teenage daughter Miranda. But there's a darkness haunting him, best seen in his treatment of Caliban (an excellent Neil Nacer), the half man/half monster, from whom he stole control of the island years before. And that the bald, much-tatted Caliban – looking every inch the gay archetype – suggests there may have been more to their relationship in the past.