A tempting Tempest takes over local parks

Twenty years after putting on their first four productions of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream for about 800 spectators, Repercussion Theatre is back this season to regale audiences with their outdoor Theatre in the Parks performances that have entertained thousands of Shakespeare specialists and those new to the Bard’s work since 1998.

This year, the Repercussion team will tempt theatre-goers with The Tempest, a comedy often considered as one of Shakespeare’s greatest works. “It’s a real sort of fantasy play,” said director Paul Hopkins. “There will be lots of music, and even a little bit of magic.’

While Hopkins, who spent two years acting at the Stratford Festival of Canada, is quite the Shakespeare buff, The Tempest will be his first foray into directing a Shakespeare play as well as outdoor theatre. Even so, he said he’s not worried, thanks to the excellent team he’s working with and Repercussion’s track record. “It’s the quality of entertainment,” he said. “No matter what, every year, going into the park and sitting down to watch a play, you can’t beat it.”

Veteran actor Greg Kramer -- who is well-known on stage and the silver screen from movies like I’m Not There, The Day After Tomorrow, and 300 – will join Repercussion this year as Prospero, The Tempest’s protagonist. “He’s quite the accomplished magician,” Hopkins said.

Pamela Daoust, Repercussion Theatre’s communications director, said the company’s 20th anniversary season is not to be missed. “As this is Repercussion Theatre's 20th anniversary, we decided to present Shakespeare's most theatrical play, The Tempest. This was the Bard's last play and, hence, his farewell to the stage. And, what a farewell it is,” she said. “The Tempest is a unique package deal. You get to live a voyage that brings you through the whole range of human emotions: sadness, revenge, love, ambition, etc. To make the play even more grandiose than it already is, our artistic director, Paul Hopkins, decided to add in some magic, puppets and singing.”

Repercussion will also present The Tempest in both English and French, making the play even more accessible to the audiences – even those who might find Shakespeare’s work a bit daunting. “Our job is to make this stuff accessible. That’s Repercussion theatre’s mission. The audience is not going to have to read (the play). We do all the hard work for them,” Hopkins said. “It’s to go, this is not out of your reach. It’s very much in your reach, and it’s rich.”

Repercussion Theatre, a not-for-profit group, will present The Tempest in English at 7 p.m. on July 24 in Dorval’s Parc du Millénaire on Lakeshore Drive. In case of rain, it will be held in the Dorval Arena, 1450 Dawson. For more information on Repercussion Theatre and the see the full schedule, visit www.repercussiontheatre.com.