FREDONIA - Academy Award Winner Christopher Plummer stars in a special U.S. theatrical release of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House on Friday at 6:30 p.m. This captured-live in high-definition stage play was filmed during two days of live performances with eight cameras at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival during Plummer's 2010 engagement as Prospero. It was directed by Stratford Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director Des McAnuff.
"Christopher Plummer is quite simply one of the greatest actors of our time, both on stage and on screen. The opportunity to see him as Prospero in 'The Tempest,' one of the greatest roles ever written and one he has longed to play, is nothing short of historic," said McAnuff.
"The Tempest" pits the desire for revenge against the demands of love and asks if man is capable of creating a brave new world. The story focuses on Prospero, the banished Duke of Milan. Marooned on a distant island with his daughter, Miranda (Trish Lindstrom), Prospero has spent 12 years perfecting his magic arts. Now, with the help of the spirit Ariel (Julyana Soelistyo), he raises a storm at sea, bringing within his grasp the enemies who robbed him of his dukedom.
The presentation includes a 20-minute Q&A with Plummer and McAnuff in a lively and insightful discussion about the challenges of capturing live theater for cinema screens. Audience members ask some diverse questions covering the arc of Plummer's career, and if - following "The Sound of Music" - he will ever sing on screen again.
Tickets to "The Tempest" are $15 and may be purchased in person at the Opera House Box Office or by phone at 679-1891 today through Friday from 1-5 p.m. They also may be purchased online at www.fredopera.org.
This program is made possible by Dr. James M. and Marcia Merrins, who funded the purchase of the satellite transmission and projection equipment used in the screening. Support also comes from the United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County.